Once dubbed cold-blooded killers, Erik and Lyle Menendez are now poised to face the parole board after more than three decades behind bars.
By April Rodgers, Content Coordinator | FreeWire Magazine
Editor’s Note: For readers who didn’t grow up in the ‘90s or who don’t live and breathe true crime, the Menendez Brothers case might only ring a faint bell—or none at all. But for a generation, it was the trial that gripped the nation. Now, more than three decades later, Lyle and Erik Menendez are once again back in the headlines. Here’s a look back at their notorious case, the timeline and the surprising legal developments happening right now.
August 20, 1989 – The Murders Erik and Lyle Menendez shot their parents inside their Beverly Hills mansion. José was shot six times, while Kitty was shot ten times, including a fatal shot to the face. The brothers initially told police they found their parents murdered upon returning home from the movies.
1989 to 1990 – Lavish Spending and Suspicion In the months following the killings, Erik and Lyle spent lavishly, buying luxury cars, expensive clothes, and taking vacations. Their spending raised suspicions, but no charges were immediately filed.
March 1990 – The Confession Erik Menendez confessed to his psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, that he and his brother committed the murders. Dr. Oziel’s mistress later tipped off police, leading to the brothers’ arrests.
1993 – First Trial Begins The brothers’ first trial gained national attention with its live courtroom coverage. The defense argued the killings were the result of years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse by their father. The jury deadlocked on whether it was murder or self-defense.
1996 – Retrial and Convictions In the second trial, a judge ruled that the brothers’ claims of abuse could not be used as a justification for murder. Both Erik and Lyle were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
2022 – Renewed Attention Through Social Media and Documentaries The case resurfaced on TikTok and through multiple documentaries and series, including a dramatized show produced by Ryan Murphy, sparking a debate over whether the abuse claims deserved reexamination.
2023 – Petition for Resentencing Erik and Lyle filed for resentencing under California’s new laws that allow courts to reconsider sentences in cases involving claims of abuse and youth trauma. The petition argued that the brothers were victims of prolonged child abuse.
May 13, 2025 – Resentencing and Parole Eligibility A Los Angeles judge resentenced the Menendez brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole after serving over 35 years. The judge acknowledged their rehabilitation efforts and cited California law requiring special consideration for those who were youthful offenders at the time of their crimes.
June 13, 2025 – Parole Hearing Scheduled The brothers will face a parole hearing to determine whether they can be released. If the parole board recommends release, the decision could land on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for final approval.
Family Divided Over the Menendez Brothers’ Fate
Several members of the Menendez family have publicly supported the brothers, urging for their release or resentencing. Anamaria Baralt, the brothers’ cousin, spoke in court, urging the judge to allow their release and saying they deserved a “second chance at life.” The family’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, also stated the extended family strongly supports the brothers’ release. Joan VanderMolen, Kitty Menendez’s sister and the brothers’ aunt, has been vocal in backing their plea for freedom. Some family members have also spoken about the trauma the family has endured over the years, particularly after learning of the brothers’ involvement in the murders. However, not all relatives share this sentiment. Milton Andersen, one of Kitty Menendez’s brothers, has opposed the brothers’ release, maintaining that the gravity of their crimes cannot be overlooked.
The Menendez Brothers in Pop Culture and Media Despite their life sentences, Erik and Lyle Menendez never disappeared from the public consciousness. Their story has been the focus of numerous documentaries, television series, and podcasts, reigniting debates about their guilt, abuse claims, and the justice system. Key media portrayals include:
• “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders” (2017, NBC) – A dramatized eight-episode series produced by Dick Wolf and starring Edie Falco as defense attorney Leslie Abramson, exploring the trials from the defense’s point of view.
• “Menendez Brothers: Misjudged?” (2022, Peacock) – A docuseries presenting new interviews and a fresh look at the abuse claims and the brothers’ lives behind bars.
• “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” (2023, Peacock) – A bombshell docuseries alleging links between José Menendez and abuse within the boy band Menudo, reigniting national conversations about Erik and Lyle’s abuse narrative.
• Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” (2024) – From Ryan Murphy, creator of “Dahmer,” this fictionalized series tells the brothers’ story with a focus on the abuse allegations and courtroom drama, bringing their story to a new generation.
• Numerous podcasts and social media accounts have also taken on the case, making the Menendez brothers a TikTok-era phenomenon, particularly among younger users who view them as victims rather than monsters.
A Case That Still Divides America
While the Menendez brothers’ defense centered around claims of parental abuse, many Americans continue to view the case as a tale of greed and cold-blooded murder.
As they face their parole hearing, the nation—and their own family—remains divided on whether Erik and Lyle Menendez are victims who deserve freedom or killers who must remain behind bars.
