The Menendez Brothers will remain in prison until at least 2025

On November 26, 2024By Littum

Upper line

A Los Angeles judge delayed a sentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez — two brothers convicted of killing their parents in the 1990s — from early December to late January, meaning the brothers will remain in prison at least through the new year. as the decades-old case gains new attention and calls for release.

The Menendez brothers’ appeal period was pushed from December 11 to January 30, 2025.

Sygma via Getty Images

Key facts

The decision to postpone the hearing from Dec. 11 to Jan. 30, 2025, was made at least in part so the new district attorney is able to “review the documents and make a statement,” Judge Michael Jesic said Monday. New York Times reported.

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended that the brothers be resentenced and released in October, but some believed it was a political move, and Gascón was voted out of office earlier this month.

Gascón lost to Nathan Hochman, an independent candidate who focused his campaign on voters’ concerns about homelessness and crime, but Hochman has not made public his stance on the Menendez brothers.

Hochman recently said he wants to do the work himself, review as much information about the case and the brothers as he can and will decide whether or not to ask a judge for a complaint.

The brothers received life sentences without the possibility of parole after being convicted of killing their parents, although the couple claimed they killed their parents after years of abuse from their father.

Get Forbes Breaking News text alerts: We’re launching text messages so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Send “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or register here.

Key background

The Menendez brothers were arrested on suspicion of murdering their parents in 1990 and stood trial separately in 1993. Their lawyers argued they faced sexual abuse and killed their parents to stop it, while prosecutors said , that the killings were premeditated and that the brothers wanted their parents’ money. The first trials ended in mistrials after juries deadlocked, and it was the brothers tried again in 1995 together – although much of the evidence of sexual abuse was not included. The second jury found them guilty of first-degree murder, and they were sentenced to life in prison without parole. A recent Netflix series from Ryan Murphy, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” put the case back in the spotlight this year. Murphy said the show was the “best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years,” although Erik Menendez said on X Murphy had “bad intentions” and the show had “vile and appalling characterizations of Lile and of me. ” Despite his complaints, the review of their case—and Garcón’s subsequent recommendation, to their chagrin—came after the show’s success.

Surprising facts

“Monsters” was the most watched series on Netflix for two weeks, was in the Global Top 10 for seven weeks and reached the Top 10 TV show chart in 89 countries.

Key

The brothers tried another route to get out of prison, requesting clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, but Newsom’s office said last week that he “respects the district attorney’s role in ensuring justice is served and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman with carrying out that responsibility.” Newsom’s office said he would “delay to the DA-elect’s review and analysis of the Menendez case before making any clemency decisions.”

Upper line

Key facts

Key background

Surprising facts

Key

Further reading