California Parole Board Refuses to Grant Freedom to Erik Menendez | California

On Thursday, the California board of parole hearings denied Erik Menendez’s release after nearly 30 years in prison for the murder of his parents alongside his brother.

Erik and Lyle Menendez were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for the fatal shooting of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. They were 18 and 21 years old at the time. The defense claimed the brothers acted in self-defense due to years of abuse by their father, while prosecutors argued that the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

California commissioners denied Menendez’s parole for three years. His brother Lyle, held at the same prison in San Diego, is scheduled for a parole hearing the next day.

The commissioners concluded that Menendez should not be freed after questioning him about his involvement in the crime and his violations of prison rules.

Following a judge’s decision in May to reduce their sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life, the Menendez brothers became eligible for parole because they were under 26 when they committed the crime.

Erik Menendez presented his account of his upbringing, the reasons behind his actions, and his personal transformation in prison during his hearing, which took place 36 years after the murders.

Menendez acknowledged the hearing’s significance, noting that it coincided with the anniversary of the trauma experienced by his family members.

The hearing was observed by a single reporter, who shared the details with the rest of the press. Menendez appeared gray-haired and bespectacled, dressed in a blue T-shirt over a white long-sleeve shirt.

The commissioners examined Menendez’s record of rule violations and fights, including allegations of gang involvement, drug use, cellphone possession, and tax fraud.

Menendez explained that without a hope of release, he prioritized self-protection over compliance with prison rules. However, he changed his approach when Los Angeles prosecutors sought to resentence him and his brother, which reopened the possibility of parole.

The use of cellphones was a contentious issue for the commissioners. Menendez argued that the benefits of his external connections outweighed the risks of being caught.