A glimpse of freedom is well within the sights of Erik and Lyle Menendez, after a judge sensationally deemed them eligible for parole at a hearing in California earlier this week.
The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in California in 1989. Erik and Lyle were 18 and 21 at the time.
On Tuesday, May 13, Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers’ sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life.
The brothers, who have already served 35 years in jail, are now eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime while under the age of 26.
They still need approval from the state’s parole board to be released.
In a statement to the court, Lyle said: “I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification. The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable.”
Erik also added: “You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better.”
Judge Jesic said he had given “long thought” to his decision.
“I do give them a lot of credit for changing their lives,” Jesic said.
“I’m not saying they should be released, it’s not for me to decide. I do believe they’ve done enough in the past 35 years that they should get that chance.”
Ahead of the court hearing, José and Kitty’s niece, Anamaria Baralt, spoke in support of the brothers. She said the family has always hoped “justice will prevail.”
“They have apologised to us repeatedly over the years and have exemplified growth and healing,” Anamaria, 54, said.
“The court made clear that this process isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about justice, and it’s about giving people the chance to show who they are now. Not just who they were in their worst moment.”
Referring to Erik and Lyle, she added: “We’re so proud of you. We’re going to fight for you forever.”
The brothers have never denied the killings, but maintain they acted in self-defence after years of sexual abuse from José.
The court’s latest decision is a big win for the brothers, whose case was re-examined in the popular 2024 Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
José’s sister, Erik and Lyle’s aunt, Terry Baralt, recently broke her 35-year silence to back the boys.
“It’s time,” she told ABC News.
“Thirty-five years is a long time. It’s a whole branch of my family erased.”
“For everybody, this is a story. For me, it’s very personal. Those kids, they’re like the boys that I didn’t have.”
The brothers, who are held at Richard J. Donovan State Prison in San Diego, will now look to the state’s parole board for their decision, along with a separate clemency request that they had filed with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The board is expected to submit its clemency recommendation on June 13.
