On the night of August 20, 1989, Beverly Hills was the scene of one of the most shocking crimes in U.S. history: the murder of José and Mary Louise Menéndez. Their sons, Erik and Lyle Menéndez, grabbed two shotguns and fired repeatedly at them inside their Hollywood Hills home. The brothers asserted that years of physical and psychological abuse from their parents influenced their decision.
Thirty-six years later, the California board has denied parole to Erik Menéndez. Now 54, he appeared by video from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego for a hearing that lasted 10 hours. His brother, Lyle, 57, is scheduled to face the parole board on Friday. Both men were sentenced to life in prison after their parents’ murder, which they committed at the ages of 18 and 21. The board ruled that Erik will not be eligible to reapply for parole for another three years.
Commissioner Robert Barton addressed Erik directly during the hearing, making it clear why the board had reached its decision. “Contrary to your supporters’ beliefs, you have not been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a little disturbing,” he said. “We find that you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety.”
© Getty Images“You have two options: one is to have a pity party… And then you become a self-fulfilling prophecy, probably not getting granted [parole] next time. Or you can take to heart what we discussed. I hope that the people that are out there supporting you continue to motivate you,” Barton concluded.
“I hope that the people that are out there supporting you continue to motivate you,” Barton said.
© Getty ImagesHope remains for Erik despite setback
© Soqui TedA spokesperson for Lyle and Erik Menendez said on Thursday in a statement to People, “While we respect the decision, today’s outcome was of course disappointing and not what we hoped for. But our belief in Erik remains unwavering, and we know he will take the Board’s recommendation in stride. His remorse, his growth, and the positive impact he has had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold on to the hope that he can return home soon.”
© Getty ImagesU.S. media reports suggest the decision was based mainly on his misconduct over the years: possession of phones in prison, gang ties, drug use, and repeated violations of prison rules. Commissioners asserted that family forgiveness or remorse alone is insufficient if an inmate’s behavior is not exemplary.
The Menéndez case is remembered not only for the brutality of the crime but also for the bizarre details that followed. After killing their parents, Erik and Lyle went to the movies to see a James Bond film. Unable to get tickets for License to Kill, they ended up watching something else. They staged the scene to make it look like they had just found their parents’ bodies when they got home and called the police.
© Sygma via Getty ImagesLos Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman later praised the decision made by the California Parole Board, saying in a statement that it “delivers justice for José and Kitty Menéndez, victims of the brutal murders committed by their sons on August 20, 1989.” Hochman also noted that Erik will be eligible to reapply for parole in three years.
A media circus… and separate trials
During the trial, held in 1993, the Menéndez brothers’ defense argued that the murders were the result of years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse at the hands of their father, José Menéndez, and neglect from their mother, Kitty. The motive behind the killings deeply divided both public opinion and the jury, leading to two separate and highly publicized trials.
© Getty ImagesThe first round ended with a hung jury. However, in 1996, both brothers were finally convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, thus avoiding the death penalty.
Over the years, the Menéndez case has been the subject of multiple documentaries and TV series, which have explored the complexity of family dynamics and the circumstances surrounding the crimes. A year ago, Netflix released Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, a new installment in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology following the success of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
© Getty ImagesThe series became a major hit for the platform, ranking among the most-watched in its history and reviving a story that has reopened the debate over whether the brothers acted in self-defense. Notably, celebrities like Kim Kardashian have spoken out in favor of freeing the brothers and have closely followed the case since the show’s release.
© Getty ImagesStarring Javier Bardem as the brothers’ father, along with Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, and Cooper Koch, the latter two portraying the Menéndez brothers, the series undoubtedly sparked widespread discussion and brought the case back into the public spotlight.
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