Lyle Menendez has been denied parole more than three decades after the 1989 killing of his parents José and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home.
The decision was handed down on Friday, August 22 after Lyle’s parole hearing, which the convicted murderer attended via video conference from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
The decision comes just one day after Lyle’s brother Erik, 54, was also denied parole, who is in prison for the same murder.
Lyle, 57, faced a different panel of parole commissioners to his brother in the 10-hour hearing, where his prison indiscretions, including his illicit phone use and reprimands for touching a female visitor in several instances were scrutinized. Lyle had illegal possession of a phone while incarcerated from 2018 to 2024.
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Similarly, during Erik’s hearing, his in-prison behavior was looked at thoroughly. Lead parole commissioner Robert Barton cited various prison violations while Erik has been incarcerated, including inappropriate behavior with visitors, drug smuggling, misuse of state computers, violent episodes in 1997 and 2011 and cellphone possession, per NewsNation.
The Menendez family released a statement following the decision, per NBC Los Angeles.
“This is not the end of the road. Both will go before the Board again, and their habeas petition remains under review,” the family statement read. “In the meantime, we know they will take time to reflect on the Board’s recommendations and will continue to lead, mentor, and build programs that support rehabilitation and hope for others.”
The statement continued, “We know they are good men who have done the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful. We love them unconditionally and will continue to stand by them on the journey ahead.”
Following Erik’s hearing, the family also released a prepared statement, which was obtained by NewsNation on Thursday
“While we respect the decision, today’s outcome was of course disappointing and not what we hoped for,” Menendez family members said in the statement. “But our belief in Erik remains unwavering and we know he will take the Board’s recommendation in stride. His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he’s had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he is able to return home soon.”
Lyle and Erik have been serving out their sentences in California’s Donovan Correctional Facility after being arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree murder. The siblings became persons of interest after their parent were found shot in their home.
The brothers ultimately admitted to killing their parents following years of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The Menendez brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 after two high-profile trials.
After a resurgence in their case, Erik and Lyle were resentenced to 50 years to life, which made them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law since they committed their crime under the age of 26.
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Prior to the hearings, Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles’ current district attorney, explained why he was against Erik and Lyle’s release.
“The Menendez brothers have never fully accepted responsibility for the horrific murders of their parents, instead continuing to promote a false narrative of self-defense that was rejected by the jury decades ago,” Hochman said in a Wednesday, August 20, statement. “We have consistently opposed their release because they have not demonstrated full insight into their crimes or shown that they have been fully rehabilitated, and therefore continue to pose a risk to society. We will evaluate our final position based on the evidence presented at the hearing.”
The case has been the inspiration for several movies and documentaries, including a 2024 release of a Netflix documentary and series. Hochman insisted this interest won’t affect the hearing outcome.
“While recent documentaries and films have drawn renewed attention to this case, parole decisions must be based solely on the facts and the law,” he continued. “This case, like all cases — especially those that captivate the public — must be viewed with a critical eye. Justice should never be swayed by spectacle.”
