The Los Angeles district attorney’s office will review new evidence in the case of the Menéndez brothers, who were convicted of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago.
George Gascón, the Los Angeles county district attorney, said during a news conference on Thursday that attorneys for Erik Menéndez, 53, and his 56-year-old brother, Lyle Menéndez, have asked a court to vacate their convictions.
Gascón said his office will review new evidence and decide whether the case should be considered for resentencing. A hearing was scheduled for 29 November.
The new evidence presented in a petition includes a letter written by Erik Menéndez that his attorneys say corroborates the allegations that he was sexually abused by his father. Gascón said his office had not yet made any decisions and did not know the “validity” of what was presented at the trial.
“We will evaluate all of it,” he said.
Lyle, who was then 21, and Erik, then 18, were given life sentences for fatally shooting their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989. The brothers admitted they fatally shot their father, entertainment executive, and their mother, but said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father’s longterm sexual molestation of Erik.
Prosecutors argued the sons had been after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate, and said there was no evidence of molestation.
Jurors rejected a death sentence in favor of life without parole.
The case has received renewed attention in recent years, particularly on TikTok, where supporters have argued the brothers did not receive a fair trial and have advocated for their release. In 2023, a member of the boy band Menudo said that José Menéndez had sexually abused him – allegations that were included in the petition from the brothers.
The killings were the subject of a Ryan Murphy show released last month, which was criticized by the Menéndez family as a “grotesque shockadrama”.
