The Menendez saga took another twist this week as Joseph “Lyle” Menendez was denied parole, just a day after his brother Erik faced the same outcome.
Both remain behind bars for the 1989 murders of their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, defying ongoing campaigns for their release that have included family, friends, and even high-profile celebrities like Kim Kardashian.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed in a brief statement, “Joseph (Lyle) Menendez was denied parole for three years at his initial suitability hearing today.”
Pop Culture Spotlight on a Grisly Crime
The parole denial comes amid renewed public fascination with the Menendez case, fueled by Netflix’s hit dramatization “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and numerous documentaries exploring the details of the infamous killings.
The series revisits the 1989 murders, the courtroom drama, and the brothers’ claims of an abusive upbringing in a wealthy household, bringing the case back into the cultural spotlight decades later.
Revisiting the 1989 Beverly Hills Murders
The hearing comes over 36 years after Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot dead by their sons.
Prosecutors have long argued that the murders were motivated by a desire to inherit the family fortune.
The chilling details include Jose Menendez being shot five times, including in the kneecaps, and Kitty Menendez being fatally shot while trying to escape.
Initially, the brothers tried to blame the killings on a mafia hit, but their story changed multiple times.
Erik, who was 18 at the time, later confessed during therapy sessions, and both ultimately claimed self-defence, citing years of emotional and sexual abuse by their father.
Parole Hearing Details
Friday’s hearing, closed to the public, lasted 11 hours and took place separately from Erik’s hearing the previous day.
Both brothers appeared via video link from the San Diego prison where they are serving their sentences.
Panel members, whose names were not released, questioned the men on their behaviour, remorse, and attitudes toward the murders.
This marked the first parole consideration since a judge earlier this year resentenced the brothers, reducing their original life sentences to 50 years with the possibility of release.
Public Opinion and Debate
The Menendez parole hearings continue to divide public opinion.
While some argue that decades in prison and changing social perspectives on abuse merit consideration for release, others see the parole denial as a necessary affirmation of justice for the victims.
