Lara Murray-Sterzel, Editor-In-Chief
For the past few years, the Menendez Brothers have resurfaced as a new generation learns and investigates their case. As a result, a social media movement formed using the hashtag: FreeTheMenendezBrothers. Today, the Menendez Brothers’ family and their supporters rally together to fight for their freedom after more than three decades behind bars.
In 1990, 21-year-old Lyle Menendez and 18-year-old brother Erik Menendez were arrested for the shotgun murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. With the help from their legal defense team, the brothers opened up about the secrets behind the murders. During the first trial, the brothers recalled horrific details of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse they endured by their father who was enabled by their mother. Erik turned to Lyle for help in which he confronted their father and vowed to tell everyone if he didn’t stop. Their father, in return, made an ominous threat to Lyle where he began to fear for their lives. On the night of the murders, the brothers had a heated encounter with their parents which the brothers feared was the moment they were in danger and killed them.
The first trial ended in a hung jury because one half voted manslaughter while the other half voted murder. But after O.J. Simpson’s trial, the L.A. justice system took a drastic turn. The second trial judge, Judge Stanley Weisberg, limited the defense’s evidence surrounding the abuse and ruled to remove the option of a manslaughter verdict. Ultimately, the jury found the brothers guilty of first-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison without parole. After their convictions, the brothers were separated for over twenty years before reuniting again in 2018. For the past seven years, they’ve resided in the Richard J. Donovan State Prison in San Diego.
Not long after the Menendez Brothers’ social media resurface, Netflix released Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story and the documentary The Menendez Brothers. When new pieces of evidence including a letter Erik wrote alluding to the abuse to a cousin and former member of Menudo Roy Rossuello accused the brothers’ father to have raped him as a boy were revealed, the public pressure could no longer be ignored. Now the Menendez Brothers’ family have taken legal action to release the brothers.
When Nathan Hochman took over as District Attorney of Los Angeles County, he revoked several of the previous DA’s policies and reexamined documents related to the Menendez Brothers’ two trials. In that time, Hochman has opposed the brothers’ habeas corpus petition and said he would recommend resentencing after they admit to the sixteen lies they told during the trials. This decision has outraged the family and supporters, accusing Hochman of “reinviting facts.” In the past, the family have publicly spoken about the brothers having taken responsibility for their crimes and have expressed that over the years since being incarcerated.
Records from the brothers’ prison show sincere rehabilitation while behind bars. The brothers have spent their lives dedicated to prison reformation which includes launching the Green Space Project. This project involves converting the prison yard into an environmental setting, painting the walls of the prison yard into a mural, incorporating outdoor classrooms, and providing better conditions for the training dogs in the prison’s service dog program. They’ve also helped other sexual abused victims through mail and mentored inmates toward a path of peace. One of these inmates includes rapper X-Raided who’s released the song “Sins of the Father,” which tells the story of their lives through the perspective of Lyle and the lead-up to the night of the murders.
On Mar. 20, The Menendez brothers’ family and supporters took their demands to the L.A.’s Hall of Justice. They held a demonstration, on the day a judge had been originally scheduled to hear evidence related to the brothers’ case, to make it clear they’re not backing down. “We want the suffering to end. The only way it does is for Erik and Lyle to come home,” said Sarah Malice, cousin, at the conference.
Governor Gavin Newsom is ordering the parole board to launch a “comprehensive risk assessment” investigation into the brothers case. Newsom also announced on his new podcast that the Menendez Brothers will independently appear before the parole board for a hearing on June 13. As of now, the resentencing hearing will be this month at the Van Nuys Courthouse.
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