California Parole Board Denies Menendez Brothers Parole After 35 Years

The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents, were both denied parole in California despite a recent wave of public sympathy and media attention, including Netflix documentaries and celebrity support. Their resentencing in 2023 made them eligible for parole, but the board cited ongoing concerns about public safety, rule-breaking, and insufficient accountability as reasons for the denials. Both brothers were assessed as moderate risks, with Lyle receiving a three-year wait before reapplying, and Erik facing similar restrictions due to unresolved risk factors. The parole board decisions emphasize prison records and behavioral assessments over public opinion or media campaigns. Their family expressed disappointment but remains hopeful about future parole opportunities, though final approval rests with California Governor Gavin Newsom. Currently, the brothers remain incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, with their next parole hearings years away.