What Happened to the Menendez Brothers? What were the Menendez Brothers Charged With? When will the Menendez Brothers be Released? Will the Menendez Brothers Get a New Trial?
by Reshwanth A
Updated Nov 03, 2023
What Happened to the Menendez Brothers?
In the 1990s, two brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez, were put on trial for killing their parents. Their trial became famous because it was shown on TV. In the first trial, they said they did it because they were afraid for their lives. They claimed their dad had hurt them for a long time, and their mom knew about it. But the first trial ended with the juries disagreeing in 1994.
In the second trial in 1995, they were tried by one jury, and the judge didn't allow them to talk about the abuse. In March 1996, both brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy. They got life sentences in prison without any chance of getting out. Many people watched the case on TV, and it was all about whether the brothers were telling the truth about the abuse or if they just wanted money.
At Fresherslive, our mission is to bridge the gap between news and readers, making current events and trending stories easily digestible for your convenience. We strive to provide you with the latest scoop on global happenings.
What were the Menendez Brothers Charged With?
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, were in trouble for doing something really bad. They were charged with first-degree murder, which means they were accused of planning and intentionally killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their big house in Beverly Hills in 1989. They were said to have bought guns, practiced using them, and then used those guns to kill their parents while they were having ice cream and watching a movie.
They were charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder for killing both their mom and dad. The reason the police and lawyers said they did it was because they wanted money. Their parents were going to stop giving them money from their big estate. After two big trials in 1996, the Menendez brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder and planning to murder, and they got life sentences in prison without any chance of getting out.
When Will the Menendez Brothers Be Released?
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, are unlikely to ever be released from prison. They are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. In California, where they are incarcerated, even if they were eligible for parole, it's very uncommon for high-profile cases like theirs to result in release. To be released on parole in California, a parole board would need to recommend it, and then the governor would have to agree to it.
Recent examples, such as Governor Gavin Newsom blocking the parole of Charles Manson followers Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten despite parole board recommendations, highlight the challenge of obtaining release in such cases. Therefore, it's highly improbable that the Menendez brothers will ever be released from prison unless there are extraordinary and unforeseen developments in their case, which is highly unlikely.
Will the Menendez Brothers Get a New Trial?
The Menendez brothers have not been granted a new trial. While their attorneys have argued that new evidence could potentially overturn their convictions and life sentences, this hasn't led to a new trial being approved. The brothers were originally convicted of the 1989 murder of their parents and had asserted that their actions were acts of self-defense, claiming they had endured a lifetime of abuse by their father.
Whether they will ultimately receive a new trial or not remains uncertain, and any such decision would depend on the legal system's evaluation of the evidence and arguments presented by their legal team.
How Old Were the Menendez Brothers?
The Menendez brothers, Lyle Menendez, aged 55, and Erik Menendez, aged 52, are still alive. They are presently serving their sentences at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in California, according to the California Department of Corrections. Their remarkable reunion took place in April 2018, following a separation of more than 20 years in different correctional facilities. Before this reunion, the last time they had the opportunity to see each other was back on September 10, 1996.
What Happened to the Menendez Brothers - FAQs
The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, were put on trial for the murder of their parents.
They were charged with first-degree murder for intentionally killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Yes, there were two trials. The first ended in disagreement among the juries in 1994, and in the second trial in 1995, both brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder.
It's highly unlikely. They are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole in California, where release for high-profile cases is rare.
The police and lawyers claimed that the brothers committed the murders because they wanted to continue receiving money from their parents' large estate, as their parents were planning to cut them off.