Lyle Menendez was denied parole on Friday, conserving him behind bars along 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 recommended him for his conduct in jail, together with his lack of violence, his work on applications and his optimistic relationships with different inmates and employees. She additionally famous his robust help community and stable plans for a post-release life.
However she stated the panel discovered “there are nonetheless indicators” that he poses a threat to the general public.
“You have got been a mannequin inmate in some ways who has demonstrated the potential for change,” Garland instructed 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 optimistic 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 stated “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 stated, referring to his earlier sentence of life with out the potential for parole.
“Residents are anticipated to comply with the foundations whether or not or not there may be some incentive to take action,” she added.
Garland stated the board did give “nice weight” to the truth that Lyle Menendez was underneath the age of 26 on the time of the murders and was very prone to the “adverse and dysfunctional” atmosphere 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 stated he had a “poor risk notion” relating to the chance posed by his father, Jose Menendez.
Garland instructed Lyle Menendez to remain hopeful, and stated he must be the individual he reveals himself to be when he’s working applications for different inmates.
She suggested he “spend a while to reveal, to apply what you preach about who you might be, who you need to be.”
Lyle Menendez is subsequent eligible for parole in three years. However the board stated he will probably be thought-about for an administrative assessment inside one yr and might be moved as much as a listening to in as quickly as 18 months.
The brothers’ relations, who’ve been pushing for his or her launch, stated in a press release Friday that they’re “disillusioned,” 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 stated, including, “We all know they may take time to mirror on the Board’s suggestions and can proceed to steer, mentor, and construct applications that help rehabilitation and hope for others. We all know they’re good males who’ve accomplished 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 totally different from these reviewing Lyle Menendez’s case — based mostly 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 mix of two reserving images supplied by the California Division of Corrections reveals Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez.
California Dept. of Corrections through AP
One commissioner stated it was Erik Menendez’s conduct in jail, not the seriousness of the crime, that was the first purpose 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 dad and mom after years of sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez, and he stated he felt betrayed by his mom when he realized that she knew concerning the abuse.
“After I was working into the den, I used to be in a state of terror, of panic, of rage,” he instructed the board members, describing the moments main as much as the capturing.
Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman, who firmly opposes the brothers’ launch, stated in a press release after Erik Menendez’s parole was denied, “The Board appropriately decided that Erik Menendez’s actions communicate 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 assessment 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 potential for parole for the Aug. 20, 1989, murders. Lyle Menendez was 21 and Erik Menendez was 18 on the time, and the brothers stated 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 dad and mom on March 12, 1990.
Nick Ut/AP
This Could, Decide Michael Jesic resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life in prison, making them instantly eligible for parole underneath 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 completed to higher 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 prior to now.
