Menendez Brothers Denied Parole in Consecutive Hearings
Menendez Brothers Denied Parole in Consecutive Hearings
LOS ANGELES – Lyle Menendez was denied parole Friday, just one day after his brother Erik faced the same rejection, ensuring both will remain imprisoned decades after the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills. The California parole board cited similar reasons for both denials: documented misbehavior behind bars.
A two-commissioner panel denied Lyle Menendez parole for three years following a daylong hearing. Commissioners noted that despite demonstrating potential for change and being a “model inmate in many ways,” the older brother still exhibited “anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization and rule-breaking.” They stressed the importance of adhering to rules, regardless of incentives.
Lyle Menendez testified about the severe physical and sexual abuse he claimed to have suffered at the hands of his parents, expressing deep remorse and taking sole responsibility for the murders. However, the panel focused heavily on the circumstances of the crime and his recent misbehavior, including the use of cellphones in prison as recently as March 2025.
Erik Menendez, held at the same San Diego prison, was denied parole on Thursday, with commissioners determining his past misbehavior in prison still posed a risk to public safety.
The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez. While their defense argued the killings were an act of self-defense after years of alleged abuse, prosecutors contended the motive was a multimillion-dollar inheritance. A judge reduced their sentences in May, making them eligible for parole for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Both brothers still have a pending habeas corpus petition filed in May 2023, seeking a review of their convictions based on new evidence supporting their claims of abuse.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.