Mendez Brothers seek parole three decades after the killings of parents

Eric and Lile Menandez are ready to appear before the parole board of California this week – a decisive moment nearly 30 years after being convicted of killing their parents in one of the country’s most notorious criminal cases.

Eric’s parole hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, followed by Lyl on Friday, both of them in San Diego. Donovan was conducted through Videoconference with improvement facility.

It is first eligible for parole to the brothers, to reduce their sentences after the May decision by the judge of Los Angeles.

Released from punishment to chance

The Menandage brothers were sentenced to life in 1996 at the Beverly Hills Haveli of the family without the possibility of parole for their parents, Jose and Kitty Menandez for 1989 killings. At the time of crime, Eric was 18 years old and Lile was 21 years old.

Eric Menandez admitted to the hospital with kidney stones as Attorney demands release before parole decision

The prosecutors argued that the murders were economically motivated, pointing to the couple’s multimilian-dollar property. However, rescue claimed that the brothers had abolished the years of sexual and emotional misconduct at the hands of their father, causing a violent confrontation.

For decades, Menandez Bhai has been behind bars. However, in May 2025, a judge allows a California law to consider parole for his crimes, which were under 26 years of age, when their crimes were committed.

What is involved in parole process

A panel of two or three parole commissioners appointed by the Governor will individually evaluate each brother. The board will weigh rehabilitation efforts, prison conduct, expression of repentance and the scheme of regeneration in society.

Even if parole is provided, their release will not be immediate. The board’s chief counsel has 120 days to review any decision, followed by California Gav Gavin Newsome to confirm or reverse it. Newsom said in the previous comments that he takes the role of his surveillance seriously and will carefully assess each case.

Menandage Brothers Bank if the parole bid fails as a backup on a new trial

On his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,, Last month, he told Ryan Murphy, the creator of “Monsters”, that he deliberately avoided watching the Netflix series about Menandage Brothers to ensure that his decision remains free from external influences.

Newsom, who earlier ordered a comprehensive risk evaluation (CRA) in response to an apologetic petition, has said that he takes public safety seriously and has retained and retaliated the decisions of the parole board in the past.

The governor has said the last and if the parole board recommends the release of the board, it is expected to decide by Labor Day.

Nema Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial lawyers and former federal prosecutor Nema Rahmani, said, “This week’s parole board hearing is important, but it is not the end of the road for Eric and Lile Menandage.”

Rahani said that the commissioner of the parole board “will provide a recommendation on the same day, usually after immediately or for less than an hour.”

“If they recommend release, the decision will first go to the desk of the governor, so Menandage brothers will not be released immediately,” Rahani explained. “Newsom will have to sign the order and it may take days to do so. Similarly, if the board refuses parole, Newsom can still forgive the brothers or pronounce his sentence. If the brothers are not parole, they will have to wait for years to go before the board.”

Newsom’s office refused to comment.

Legal and public pressure

Unlike the parole process, the legal efforts to turn or reconsider the culprits of the brothers are still underway. In May 2023, the brothers’ lawyers filed a captive corpus petition, cited new evidence of misuse. A judge ordered the prosecutors to explain why the punishment should not be reconsidered, indicating a possible movement in the case.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hcheman labeled the petition in an attempt to “Hale Mary”, stating that justice and law demand punishment.

Menandage Brothers won significant legal victory in the decades long battle as they wait for potential freedom

Next to the hearing, Hochman’s office issued a statement, as well as a firm opposition to the parole of the Menandez Brothers on the basis that he had never completely accepted the responsibility for the killings of his parents.

The office of Hochman said, “Menandez Brothers have never fully put responsibility for the frightening murders of their parents, instead continue to promote a false story of self-defense rejected by the jury decades ago by the jury.” “We have consistently opposed his release as they have not demonstrated complete insight into their crimes or have shown that they have been fully rehabilitated, and therefore continue to indulge in risk for society.”

Hochman said that his office would evaluate his final stance on the basis of evidence presented at the hearing.

Meanwhile, the brothers’ lawyers, Mark Geragos, advocated Eric’s release last month after being hospitalized due to a serious but unknown medical condition. Eric has returned to jail since then.

The Justice for Eric & Lyl coalition, a family -led initiative, which is advocating the release of brothers, shared a statement ahead of parole hearing, stating that they are hopeful, but understand the obstacles that they still have to overcome.

“As usual, our family is carefully optimistic, in reality the basis that the parole process of California is incredibly rigid, with low grant rates. We respect it and know that Eric and Lyal are ready to investigate that level,” the statement says.

“For more than 35 years, he has shown continuous growth,” the coalition said. “They have taken full accountability. They express sincerely for our family and have created a meaningful life defined by purpose and service. Something that has actually been with us, especially as we are near parole hearing, is that what the judge Jessic said during displeasure, it was not a steel record.

Fresh meditation and cultural effects

Interest in the Menandage case has increased again in recent years, changing popular media illustrations and public spirit. Netflix released the “Monsters: The Lyl and Eric Menandage Story” and a fellow documentary, “The Menandage Brothers” in 2024, attracts focus on allegations of misconduct, which played a central role in defense of brothers.

The series co-producer, Ian Brainon shared what result he sees Interview with Hollywood reporter, Call it a complex case.

“What do I believe about the truth of the matter, actually changes from hours to hours. We went on to research it, the more confused I got, because his testimony and the story included a lot of lies. The fact that Eric was writing a script that included killing your parents,” Brainon explained.

“I think his story is very false, but there is a lot of truth for it. If they were not given parole in any way, I would be very sad. They have paid that loan,” Brainon said.

Support for the brothers gained momentum after the Los Angeles County’s former District Attorney George Gaskon filed a petition for his displeasure in 2023.

Despite these developments, the prosecutors have opposed the initial release, arguing that the Menandage Brothers have not fully accepted the responsibility for their crimes.

Hochman’s office stated that recent documentaries and films have renewed attention to the matter of brothers, “Parole’s decisions should be based only on facts and laws.”

“In recent years, the defendants have continued to promote their fabricated rescue through popular media including the 2024 Netflix documentary series. In that program, they reiterated false narratives like misconduct and self-defense, which they had created after their arrest, and which many judges and courts have already dismissed,” Hochman filed.

“His desire to appear in such presentations, and to take advantage of them for public sympathy, shows that even after more than three decades, they are committed to ending lies rather than accepting responsibility for their calculated crimes,” they continued.

Click here to get Fox News app

A case at a crossroads

As Eric and Lile Menandage have faced their first parole hearing, their future will be decided by the parole board and eventually, Newsom. The case, which has attracted national attention for more than three decades, now enters a new phase as the state weighs its possible release.

Stephanie value covers the crime, including missing individuals, housewives and migrant crimes. Story Tips: [email protected]