More than three decades after shocking the world with the 1989 murder of their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez may be closer than ever to walking out of prison. With parole hearings set for August 21 and 22, 2025, and California Governor Gavin Newsom signaling a wait-and-see approach, legal experts interviewed by the Latin Times say the stage is set for a dramatic next chapter in one of California's most polarizing criminal cases.
Initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, a renewed interest in the case, as well as the surfacing of new evidence, has prompted the Los Angeles County legal system to resentence them to 50 years to life, with the possibility of parole.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they were released on parole under strict conditions like house arrest," said Ron Zambrano, Esq., a lawyer from the West Coast Trial Lawyers firm in Los Angeles, told The Latin Times. Along with house arrest, the brothers might not be permitted to leave the state or country and may be required to find gainful employment within a certain amount of time.
"They could be in trouble if the parole board members are sticklers to the rules," Zambrano added, referring to the recent incident where both brothers were found in possession of contraband cell phones. However, Zambrano felt that this infraction was "nothing major," taking into account their otherwise perfect reputation behind bars.
The Menendez brothers have reportedly been model prisoners in their 30 years in prison, which Zambrano feels helps their chances at making parole.
Could the brothers be separated?
"I think Lyle has a real shot," says Los Angeles defense attorney Marla Ruiz, a veteran of California's criminal justice system with more than 25 years representing high-profile inmates. "This isn't the '90s anymore. The law has changed, and the science of trauma has evolved, and the public perception of the Menendez brothers has shifted in ways that are hard to ignore."
Ruiz spoke with us just days after the state formally resentenced the brothers from life without parole to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole thanks to California's youthful offender laws. Both were under 26 when they were convicted of killing their parents with shotguns inside the family's Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.
However, other legal experts are less sure that the brothers will walk free this August. "It's actually pretty hard to say if they will be granted parole or not. They are eligible to apply for it now, so there is certainly a possibility. But, this is such a highly contested case, and it is one where public, and even legal, opinions have changed quite a bit over the years. I imagine there is going to be a lot of pressure from the public on both sides of the argument that may influence their ability to be granted parole, since it is such a well-known, public case," stated Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Ben Michael at the M & A Criminal Defense Attorneys firm.
If the parole board recommends release, they could be released the same day of within a few days, although Governor Newsom has 120 days to accept, reverse, or ignore the decision. Ruiz believes he's unlikely to interfere unless public backlash is strong.
"Will they walk out this year? Maybe. Will they eventually walk out? I think yes," Zambrano says. "It's no longer just a question of what they did in 1989. It's a question of who they are now."
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