Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted of the brutal 1989 shotgun murders of their parents in Beverly Hills, could soon walk free after a Los Angeles judge on Tuesday reduced their life sentences, making them immediately eligible for parole.
The brothers, who have spent over 35 years behind bars, had been serving life without the possibility of parole. Judge Michael Jesic changed their sentences to 50 years to life, allowing them to apply for parole, with a hearing scheduled for next month.
“I do believe they've done enough over the last 35 years that one day they should get that chance,” Jesic said during an emotional hearing in which both men admitted full responsibility for the killings.
The decision follows a two-year legal push for sentence reductions, supported by a wave of public and celebrity backing, including from Kim Kardashian, and renewed attention from the Netflix miniseries *Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story*.
The brothers' 1990s trials captivated the nation as details emerged of how they murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in what prosecutors claimed was a calculated attempt to inherit the family fortune. Jose was shot five times, including in the knees, while Kitty was killed as she tried to crawl away.
Initially blaming the killings on organized crime, the brothers later confessed and claimed they acted in self-defense after enduring years of sexual and emotional abuse by their father, reports AFP.
In court Tuesday, Lyle Menendez, now 57, admitted via videolink to murdering his parents, describing his choices as deliberate and wrong. Erik, 54, echoed those sentiments, calling their actions “cruel and cowardly” and expressing deep remorse.
Their family members urged the court to show mercy, citing the brothers’ rehabilitation and contributions in prison, including support for terminally ill inmates.
"We believe that 35 years is enough," said their cousin, Anamaria Baralt. "They are universally forgiven by our family. They deserve a second chance."
However, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed the resentencing, pointing to the brothers’ shifting narratives — they reportedly offered five different explanations for the murders — and arguing they have yet to fully account for their deception.
Under California law, if the parole board recommends their release, Governor Gavin Newsom will have the authority to approve, reject, or alter the decision.
