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Parole Board Denies Erik Menendez’s Release; Lyle’s Hearing Set for Friday

Commissioners cited prison rule violations as a key factor.

A photo shot of Erik Menendez shot during Thursday’s parole hearing.
Lyle Menendez, left, and his brother, Erik, sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court in Beverly Hills, California, on March 12, 1990.
FILE - Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave a courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 6, 1990, after a judge ruled that conversations between the brothers and their psychologist after their parents were slain were not privileged and could be used as evidence. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

Overview

  • After an all‑day hearing, the California Board of Parole Hearings found Erik Menendez unsuitable for release and ordered a three‑year denial, making him eligible to reapply in 2028.
  • Commissioner Robert Barton highlighted illegal cellphone possession and other in‑prison infractions, along with concerns about his insight into the crimes, in explaining the decision.
  • Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed release, arguing the brothers have not shown full accountability, while a recent risk assessment rated them moderate risk and was characterized by the panel as neutral.
  • Lyle Menendez, 57, is scheduled for a separate parole hearing on Friday by videoconference from the San Diego prison, with his outcome still pending.
  • Both brothers became immediately eligible for parole after a May resentencing to 50 years to life under California’s youthful‑offender framework, and any future grant would face a 120‑day legal review followed by potential action by Governor Gavin Newsom.