Menendez Brothers Face Parole Hearings After 35 Years Behind Bars

After more than three decades behind bars, Erik and Lyle Menendez are finally facing parole hearings that could determine their future. The brothers, convicted in 1996 of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills home, became newly eligible for release this year after a judge resentenced them. Erik appeared before California’s parole board Thursday, with Lyle scheduled for Friday. Supporters, including over 20 family members, argue the Menendezes have taken accountability, expressed remorse, and built meaningful rehabilitative programs while incarcerated. Opponents, led by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, contend the brothers have never fully accepted responsibility, maintaining their claims of abuse as justification for the killings. Even if parole is granted, their release could hinge on Governor Gavin Newsom, who has the rare authority to approve, deny, or modify parole decisions in murder cases. The outcome remains uncertain, leaving the Menendez brothers’ decades-long fight for freedom hanging in the balance.