Menendez Brothers Denied Parole, Must Wait at Least 18 Months for Next Chance
Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California board, decades after their 1989 conviction for killing their parents, and must wait at least 18 months for another hearing.
Lyle Menendez Learns His Fate In Parole Hearing
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Menendez brothers denied parole
Just the News
Overview
- Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California board, decades after their 1989 conviction for killing their parents, marking their closest bid for freedom.
- Reasons for denial included illicit cellphone use and problematic behavior for Erik, and antisocial personality traits for Lyle, despite a psychologist's low-risk assessment.
- The California parole board cited ongoing safety concerns, requiring both brothers to wait a minimum of 18 months before they can reapply for parole.
- This decision follows renewed public interest in their case, partly due to Netflix shows, and comes after Governor Newsom ordered a risk assessment.
- The brothers, sentenced to life in 1996, must now continue their incarceration, with their next opportunity for parole at least a year and a half away.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the parole board's justification for denial, highlighting the "brutal nature of the killings" and Lyle's "illicit cell phone use" in prison. They prioritize the prosecutor's arguments and the board's concerns about his character, collectively shaping a narrative that underscores the reasons for his continued incarceration despite his remorse and positive prison conduct.
"The Menendez brothers' hopes for freedom via the prison parole process were dashed when committees deemed them unfit to rejoin society, citing years of rule-breaking while behind bars."
USA TODAY"Despite each receiving three-year denials, they will be eligible to request an administrative review in one year."
ABC News"The reason was the same: misbehavior behind bars."
ABC News"The California parole board has decided that Lyle Menendez should remain in prison for the murder of his parents in 1989."
ABC News"The parole board, which was composed of a different panel than his brother Erik faced on Thursday, said they found "that there are still signs" Lyle poses a risk to the public."
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FAQ
Erik was denied parole due to illicit cellphone use and problematic behavior, while Lyle was noted to have antisocial personality traits despite a psychologist assessing him as low-risk. The parole board also cited ongoing safety concerns.
After their parole denial, both Erik and Lyle Menendez must wait at least 18 months before they can reapply for parole.
In May 2025, a judge resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life, which made them eligible for parole as they were under 26 at the time of the crimes. Previously, they had life without parole sentences.
Renewed public interest, partly due to Netflix shows about their case, led to Governor Newsom ordering a risk assessment before the parole decision, highlighting the case's lasting attention.
Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, who were shot to death in their Beverly Hills home.
History
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