In a wild turn of events, Erik and Lyle Menendez, the infamous brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, which spawned the recently release Netflix series Monsters by Ryan Murphy, could be walking free in a matter of weeks.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has recommended their resentencing, potentially paving the way for their immediate release after serving nearly 35 years behind bars.
(Image: Getty Images)
The Menendez case, which captivated the nation in the ’90s, has resurfaced in the public consciousness thanks to viral TikTok videos and recent Netflix productions including the controversial Ryan Murphy series Monsters, which Erik himself denounced as a “dishonest portrayal” of his story.
Murphy has since defended the series in response to the backlash, saying it was “the best thing that has happened” to the brothers.
Despite the criticisms, at the heart of this resurgence is the brothers’ long-standing claim that they acted in self-defence after enduring years of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse at the hands of their father José Menendez. This assertion, which was largely dismissed during their trials, has gained traction in recent years as society’s understanding of trauma and abuse has evolved.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Gascón expressed his belief in the brothers’ account of abuse. “I do believe the brothers were subjected to a tremendous amount of dysfunction in the home, and molestation,” he stated.
This is a huge shift from the original prosecution’s narrative, which painted the brothers as greedy heirs motivated solely by their desire to inherit their parents’ fortune.
The district attorney’s decision apparently wasn’t made lightly — Gascón revealed that his office remains divided on the issue and he only came to a conclusion an hour before the announcement.
“We don’t have a universal agreement. There are people in the office that strongly believe the brothers should stay in prison for the rest of their life,” Gascón said.
However, after looking over new evidence, including a letter detailing the brothers’ abuse and a claim from someone else who said they were also mistreated by José Menendez, Gascón thought it was time to rethink their sentences. He also considered how the brothers have acted in prison, which led him to believe that resentencing was warranted.
“They have been in prison for nearly 35 years. I believe that they have paid their debt to society,” Gascón remarked, highlighting the brothers’ rehabilitation efforts. Both Erik and Lyle have earned college degrees and served as mentors and caregivers while incarcerated.
“Even though they didn’t think they would ever be let free, they engaged in a journey of redemption and a journey of rehabilitation,” Gascón said.
This development has reignited public debate about the case, with supporters like Kim Kardashian advocating for the brothers’ release and even visiting them in prison. Kardashian recently argued that the case is more nuanced than initially perceived, describing the brothers’ actions as “an unimaginable way to escape their living nightmare”.
Anamaria Baralt, José Menendez’s niece, also spoke at the press conference and was elated with the D.A.’s decision, describing it as a “day filled with hope” for the family.
The final decision now rests with a judge, who will consider the district attorney’s recommendation during a hearing next month. If approved, the life without parole sentence would be removed, making the brothers immediately eligible for parole due to their ages at the time of the murders — Lyle and Erik were 21-years-old and 18-years-old at the time.
Lead image: Getty Images
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