Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Friday that convicted killers Lyle and Erik Menendez will face a pivotal resentencing hearing March 20-21 after wildfires delayed proceedings originally scheduled for January. The brothers seek reduced sentences for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents José and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion.
New revelations emerged this week as Erik Menendez, 54, described decades of alleged prison bullying during a phone interview on TMZ’s 2 Angry Men podcast: “I faced violent bullying and trauma – it was continual.” His claims follow October 2024 statements from former DA George Gascón supporting resentencing due to “tremendous dysfunction” in their upbringing.
The Long Road to Resentencing
Convicted in 1996 after two trials revealed conflicting narratives of abuse versus greed, the brothers received life without parole. Recent developments include:
- New Abuse Claims: A 2023 allegation that José Menendez sexually assaulted former Menudo member Roy Rosselló at age 14
- Legal Shifts: Gascón’s 2024 petition arguing their youth (18 and 21 at sentencing) warrants parole eligibility under California’s youthful offender laws
- Contested Evidence: Current DA Hochman called key defense evidence “not credible,” including a disputed 1988 letter describing abuse
Prison Life Under Scrutiny
Erik’s emotional podcast testimony detailed alleged assaults at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility: “We’ve been lone wolves – no gang protection.” Supporters argue these conditions warrant compassionate release after 35 years incarcerated.
Prosecutors maintain the killings were financially motivated, citing the brothers’ $700K spending spree after murders. Legal analyst Emily Rose notes: “This case hinges on whether modern courts view their trauma as mitigating – something rejected in the ‘90s ‘tough on crime’ era.”
What Happens Next?
If resentenced to 50 years-to-life, both could immediately petition for parole. However, Hochman’s office has not committed to supporting this outcome despite meeting with family members. The March hearings will determine if California revisits one of its most infamous cases through a contemporary lens of justice reform.
