The Menendez Brothers Got Life Without Parole for the Murder of Their Parents—That Could All Change
In 1996, Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez in 1989. They were sentenced to life without parole—while even far more dangerous killers like Ed Kemper are assessed for release every few years. New evidence in 2024 could drastically alter where the Menendez brothers are now.
Where are the Menendez brothers now?
The brothers were initially incarcerated in separate prisons because it was believed they could conspire to escape together. Lyle was eventually moved from Mule Creek State Prison to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California, which is where they are now. They were reunited for the first time in 2018.
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How did they get there?
The brothers’ primary defense to the gruesome murders of their parents was that they had been sexually abused by their father, for which their mother offered no protection. Dr Ann Burgess, a psychiatric clinical nurse who specializes in trauma victims, testified to support their argument—that the fear of abuse “rewired” their brains.
“A large number more shots were fired than were necessary,” she said at trial, per the New York Times. “That would speak to a more pervasive emotion than just one emotion such as anger or rage. It would speak to a wider aspect such as fear.”
They were tried twice. The first resulted in a hung jury because a decision on whether the crime was murder or manslaughter couldn’t be reached. In the second trial, prosecutors dismissed Dr. Burgess’ testimony, the judge wouldn’t even allow it. As mentioned, they were convicted of homicide and given life without the possibility of parole.
In March 2024, the Menendez brother’s attorney, Cliff Gardner, said a letter from the boys to their cousin, Andy Cano, written in December 1988, is proof of the abuse. Revealing its existence in 48 Hours, It was never presented at trial.
“I’ve been trying to avoid Dad. It’s still happening, Andy, but it’s worse for me now. … Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. … I’m afraid. … He’s crazy. He’s warned me a hundred times about telling anyone, especially Lyle,” the letter reads, per CBS News. Cano did testify at the brothers’ trial, but prosecutors said he was lying. He died in 2003.
Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, has also come forward claiming that he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez in the early ’80s when Rossello was a minor and a member of the band. While the LA District Attorney is looking into these fresh allegations, there’s no word on when or what a judge might rule.
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