Lyle Menendez was denied parole on Friday, retaining him behind bars together with his younger brother Erik Menendez, whose parole was denied on Thursday.
As Lyle Menendez, 57, attended the listening to remotely from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, parole commissioner Julie Garland counseled him for his conduct in jail, together with his lack of violence, his work on packages and his constructive relationships with different inmates and workers. She additionally famous his sturdy help community and strong plans for a post-release life.
However she mentioned the panel discovered “there are nonetheless indicators” that he poses a threat to the general public.
“You may have been a mannequin inmate in some ways who has demonstrated the potential for change,” Garland informed him at his first-ever parole listening to. “However regardless of all these outward positives, we see … you continue to wrestle with anti-social persona traits like deception, minimization and rule-breaking that lie beneath that constructive floor.”
Lyle Menendez seems earlier than the parole board through teleconference on Friday, Aug 22, 2025, on the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
AP
Lyle Menendez’s unlawful possession of cellphones in jail was one other level made by the commissioners.
Garland mentioned “incarcerated individuals who break guidelines” usually tend to break guidelines in society.
“We do perceive that you simply had little or no hope of being launched for years,” Garland mentioned, referring to his earlier sentence of life with out the opportunity of parole.
“Residents are anticipated to observe the foundations whether or not or not there’s some incentive to take action,” she added.
Garland mentioned the board did give “nice weight” to the truth that Lyle Menendez was beneath the age of 26 on the time of the murders and was very vulnerable to the “unfavorable and dysfunctional” surroundings in his residence.
Lyle Menendez, Oct. 10, 2024.
CDCR
However when discussing the murders, Garland referred to as out Lyle Menendez’s lies to attempt to cowl up the crime and mentioned he had a “poor menace notion” relating to the danger posed by his father, Jose Menendez.
Garland informed Lyle Menendez to remain hopeful, and mentioned he must be the individual he reveals himself to be when he’s operating packages for different inmates.
She suggested he “spend a while to display, to apply what you preach about who you might be, who you wish to be.”
Lyle Menendez is subsequent eligible for parole in three years. However the board mentioned he can be thought-about for an administrative evaluate inside one 12 months and might be moved as much as a listening to in as quickly as 18 months.
The brothers’ family members, who’ve been pushing for his or her launch, mentioned in an announcement Friday that they’re “upset,” however not “discouraged.”
“The method for parole is exceptionally rigorous, however we’re extremely happy with how Erik and Lyle confirmed up — with honesty, accountability, and integrity,” the household mentioned, including, “We all know they’ll take time to mirror on the Board’s suggestions and can proceed to steer, mentor, and construct packages that help rehabilitation and hope for others. We all know they’re good males who’ve completed the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful. We love them unconditionally and can proceed to face by them.”
This choice comes sooner or later after Lyle Menendez’s brother, 54-year-old Erik Menendez, was denied parole. Erik Menendez’s panel of commissioners — who have been completely different from these reviewing Lyle Menendez’s case — primarily based their choice on a number of components, together with Erik Menendez’s unlawful use of cellphones in jail, burglaries he participated in earlier than the murders and the brutal killing of his mom, Kitty Menendez.
This mixture of two reserving photographs supplied by the California Division of Corrections reveals Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez.
California Dept. of Corrections through AP
One commissioner mentioned it was Erik Menendez’s conduct in jail, not the seriousness of the crime, that was the first motive he was denied parole. The board famous Erik Menendez’s inappropriate conduct with guests, drug smuggling, misuse of state computer systems, violent incidents and unlawful cellphone use.
Erik Menendez maintained on the listening to that the brothers killed their mother and father after years of sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez, and he mentioned he felt betrayed by his mom when he discovered that she knew concerning the abuse.
“After I was operating into the den, I used to be in a state of terror, of panic, of rage,” he informed the board members, describing the moments main as much as the taking pictures.
Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman, who firmly opposes the brothers’ launch, mentioned in an announcement after Erik Menendez’s parole was denied, “The Board accurately decided that Erik Menendez’s actions converse louder than phrases.”
Erik Menendez can even subsequent be eligible for parole in three years.
Erik Menendez, Oct. 10, 2024.
CDCR
Though their paroles have been denied, the brothers can ask the parole board to evaluate the case for errors, in line with the California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Individually, California Gov. Gavin Newsom can grant clemency to the Menendez brothers at any time.
The brothers, who have been arrested in March 1990, have been initially sentenced to life with out the opportunity of parole for the Aug. 20, 1989, murders. Lyle Menendez was 21 and Erik Menendez was 18 on the time, and the brothers mentioned they dedicated the murders in self-defense after years of abuse by their father.
Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court docket the place their attorneys delayed making pleas on behalf of the brothers who’re suspected within the murders of their mother and father on March 12, 1990.
Nick Ut/AP
This Might, Choose Michael Jesic resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life in prison, making them instantly eligible for parole beneath youth offender parole legal guidelines.
Jesic famous he was moved by the supportive letters from jail guards and was amazed by the work the brothers had achieved to raised the lives of their fellow inmates. The brothers additionally gave their very own statements to the choose, admitting their guilt and admitting to mendacity concerning the case previously.
