Erik Menendez Denied Parole After Nearly Four Decades in Prison for Parents’ Murders
Erik Menendez, convicted of murdering his parents in 1989 alongside his brother Lyle, was denied parole by a California parole board on Thursday, 36 years after the killings shocked the nation.
The parole hearing, which lasted approximately 10 hours and was conducted virtually with Menendez participating from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, concluded with the panel finding that Menendez continues to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. The board granted a three-year denial, meaning Menendez will become eligible to apply for parole again in 2028.
Menendez, who was 18 at the time of the murders, was originally convicted in 1996 during a retrial and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, a resentencing under California’s youth offender parole laws made him eligible for parole hearings, allowing the possibility of release after serving decades behind bars.
During the hearing, Parole Commissioner Robert Barton noted that while the horrific nature of the murders weighs heavily, the deciding factor was Menendez’s prison record. Barton described it as “replete” with various violations including drug use, assaults on other inmates, possession and use of a cellphone, manipulation of prison officials, hiding contraband, and inappropriate physical contact with visitors. These behaviors contributed significantly to the board’s decision to deny parole.
Despite this, the panel acknowledged the passage of time served. “We recognize that you’ve served a lot of time, even as horrific as these murders are,” Barton said, “they are not necessarily the thing that would convince the board that you are a risk to public safety, but your behavior inside prison is a crucial factor.”
Menendez addressed the parole board remotely, asserting that he no longer poses a threat and took full responsibility for his crimes. The board also heard statements from the victims’ relatives, who naturally were vocal in their opposition to parole.
Erik’s brother, Lyle Menendez, is scheduled for his parole hearing the following day, Friday, under the same legal framework.
The Menendez family released a statement following the decision which read, “While we respect the decision, today’s outcome was of course disappointing and not what we hoped for. But our belief in Erik remains unwavering and we know he will take the Board’s recommendation in stride. His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he’s had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he is able to return home soon.”
California’s parole board operates under the legal standard of determining whether an inmate currently presents an “unreasonable risk of danger to society” if released, weighing public safety foremost. The panel has the discretion to decide the date of the next parole hearing, ranging from three up to 15 years in the future, depending on the case.
Erik Menendez’s parole denial caps another chapter in one of the most notorious criminal cases in California history, where siblings Erik and Lyle killed their wealthy parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. The case drew national attention due to the brutal nature of the crime, complex family dynamics, and the lengthy legal battles that followed.