The Menendez Brothers’ sentence was reduced from life without parole to 50 years to life, making both Erik and Lyle Menendez eligible for parole consideration.
According to Deadline, the decision came from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, who ruled that the brothers—convicted of murdering their parents in 1989—would now have a path to parole, pending review by a parole board and eventual approval from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The re-sentencing comes 35 years after the brutal killings of José and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers were initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, but growing public interest and legal advocacy prompted the court to revisit their sentences.
What Led to the Menendez Brothers Sentence Being Reduced?
Several factors contributed to the Menendez Brothers’ sentence reduction, including mounting pressure from legal advocates and renewed public interest fueled by media coverage. Most recently, Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story reignited the decades-old case on social media.
The re-sentencing hearing included emotional testimonies from relatives and arguments from the brothers’ longtime attorney Mark Geragos, who pushed for a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. While the court did not downgrade the conviction, it did agree to make the brothers eligible for parole.
Judge Jesic ruled that both Erik and Lyle must appear before a California parole board, which will then make a recommendation. Ultimately, Governor Newsom will make the final decision.
The Menendez case has long fascinated the public, but the release of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix docudrama thrust the story back into the cultural spotlight. TikTok creators, Reddit threads, and true crime podcasts have debated the case, with some sympathizing with the brothers’ claims of childhood abuse and others standing firm on the original murder convictions.
This surge in attention highlighted inconsistencies in how the case was prosecuted and how abuse narratives were handled in court—especially during the 1990s.
While the Menendez brothers never denied killing their parents, their defense claimed the act was driven by years of emotional and physical abuse. The original jury didn’t buy it. But now, public opinion is more nuanced, especially among younger generations exposed to the case through streaming platforms.
