Overview

• Erik Menendez was found unsuitable for release on August 21 and Lyle Menendez on August 22, resulting in three-year denials with the possibility of administrative review within a year that could advance a new hearing to roughly 18 months.
• Commissioners cited Erik’s history of contraband cellphones, alcohol and drug use, violent incidents, misuse of state computers, and participation in a prison gang tax-fraud scheme, saying he was not a model prisoner.
• Lyle’s panel pointed to long-term unauthorized cellphone access from 2018 to 2024 and described lingering traits of deception, minimization and rule-breaking despite evidence of rehabilitation.
• Friday’s session for Lyle was disrupted when ABC7 published audio from Erik’s hearing that state officials later said was released in error, prompting objections from family members and defense citing Marsy’s Law and leading some relatives to withhold statements.
• The May resentencing that made the brothers parole-eligible remains a key backdrop as these denials undergo up to 120 days of internal review followed by a 30-day window for Gov. Gavin Newsom, with a separate habeas petition and a clemency request still pending.