Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted in 1996 of the brutal 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers claimed they acted out of fear after years of abuse, but prosecutors argued the motive was financial gain. The high-profile trial captivated the nation, ultimately ending with both brothers receiving life sentences without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
In May 2025, a Los Angeles judge resentenced them to 50 years to life, allowing parole eligibility under a California law that considers the age of offenders at the time of their crime. Erik and Lyle, who were 18 and 21 respectively, are now scheduled for a parole hearing in August 2025 after a delay from the original June date. If the parole board recommends release, Governor Gavin Newsom will have 30 days to decide their fate. The case has regained public interest due to a recent Netflix series and evolving views on juvenile sentencing and trauma.
Why Did the Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents?
Erik and Lyle Menendez claimed they killed their parents out of self-defense, alleging they had endured years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father. According to their testimony, the brothers believed their lives were in danger after they confronted him and threatened to reveal the abuse. Despite these serious claims, the court found no conclusive evidence to prove the allegations of molestation.
Prosecutors, on the other hand, presented a very different motive. They argued that the brothers planned and carried out the murders in order to gain access to their wealthy parents’ multi-million-dollar estate. The prosecution maintained that the killings were driven by greed rather than fear, leading to their eventual conviction for first-degree murder.
