Menendez Brothers’ Parole Hearings Spark Family Outcry Amid Denial for Erik, Uncertainty for Lyle
Menendez Brothers’ Parole Hearings Spark Family Outcry Amid Denial for Erik, Uncertainty for Lyle
Erik Menendez, 54, was denied parole this week for the 1989 shotgun murders of his parents, a decision that has left his family stunned and angry. News of the denial for Erik, who committed the grisly crime with his older brother Lyle, began circulating among relatives early Thursday evening, even before state parole officials made a public announcement.
His stepdaughter, Talia Menendez, took to Instagram to express her outrage, questioning, “How is my dad a threat to society? This has been torture to our family. How much longer???” In a subsequent post, she lambasted the parole board, calling them “money hungry media feeding pieces of trash.”
Meanwhile, a parole hearing for Lyle Menendez, 57, commenced Friday morning, leaving his supporters clinging to hope for a different outcome. Both brothers, originally sentenced to life without parole, became eligible for resentencing due to their age at the time of the killings, being under 26.
The case has seen renewed public interest following the popular Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which reignited social media discussions around their claims of sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez. A superior court granted their resentencing petition in May, paving the way for these recent parole hearings.
During Erik’s nearly 10-hour hearing on Thursday, more than a dozen relatives testified in his favor. Parole Commissioner Robert Barton acknowledged the strong family support but highlighted Erik’s repeated prison rule violations, specifically the use of a contraband cellphone. Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, condemned the decision on X, alleging a “complete setup.”
Despite the setback, cousin Anamaria Baralt noted that Erik received the lowest possible denial time and could re-apply for parole in three years. She acknowledged the rigorous standards in California but expressed pride in Erik for addressing the parole board for the first time. The Menendez family released a statement expressing disappointment but reaffirming their unwavering belief in Erik’s growth and positive impact.
However, the hearing also brought to light Erik’s past struggles in prison, including drug and alcohol use, fights, and allegations of involvement in a tax fraud scheme. Board members extensively questioned him about multiple instances of being caught with a cellphone, which he admitted using for communication, entertainment, and case updates, stating he paid approximately $1,000 per device. Erik confessed that the consequences of these actions only truly registered when the prospect of freedom became real.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman, who has consistently opposed parole for the brothers, applauded the board’s decision. He stated that the ruling “does justice for Jose and Kitty Menendez,” and that Erik’s prison conduct and current mentality still pose “an unreasonable risk of danger to the community.”
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