The brothers’ case has been underneath assessment. Per The Hollywood Reporter, a habeas corpus petition citing new proof may have result in new sentences for the 2 siblings. The 2023 petition features a sworn assertion from former Menudo member Roy Rosselló, who alleged that he was sexually assaulted by the brothers’ father, José, within the Eighties. Moreover, the petition highlights a letter Erik wrote to a cousin months earlier than the killings, suggesting he was a sufferer of abuse. On the time, former District Legal professional George Gascón confirmed {that a} new court docket listening to was scheduled for November 29, 2024.
Gascón additionally filed a movement on October 30, 2024, supporting the Menendez brothers’ request for clemency from Governor Gavin Newsom. Describing the brothers as “mannequin prisoners,” Gascón advised CNN that he believes there’s a sturdy chance they’d be granted parole if the case reaches the parole board. An legal professional for one of many brothers expressed hope that they could possibly be residence in time for Thanksgiving.
Nevertheless, Gascón was changed by former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, who took workplace on December 2, 2024. After successful the election, he acknowledged that he would want time to assessment the case recordsdata earlier than taking a stance on the resentencing.
“I should assessment the confidential jail recordsdata for every brother, the transcripts from each trials, and communicate to the prosecutors, legislation enforcement, protection counsel, and the victims’ members of the family. Solely then can I decide. If for some cause I want further time, I’ll ask the court docket for that point.”
A resentencing listening to, initially scheduled for December 11, 2024, was postponed. On November 25, 2024, Choose Jesic defined that he wanted extra time to assessment the case and wished to offer District Legal professional Hochman the identical alternative. The brand new listening to dates had been set for January 30 and 31, 2025, however had been postponed once more.
The Menendez brothers had been scheduled to return to court docket on March 20, 2025, for a listening to to find out if they need to be resentenced. Nevertheless, DA Hochman introduced he requested the court docket to reject Lyle and Erik’s request for a brand new trial.
“We seemed once more on the credibility of the letters, notably this Andy Cano 1988 supposed letter weighed within the continuum of lies, and it calls into drastic query whether or not that is in actual fact a 1988 letter written by Erik Menendez to Andy Cano about this sexual abuse,” Hochman stated.
In February 2025, forward of their listening to, California Governor Gavin Newsom urged the parole board to conduct a radical danger evaluation of the Menendez brothers. This investigation will decide whether or not they would pose a hazard to the general public if granted parole.
A month later, weeks earlier than their resentencing listening to, Hochman stated he doesn’t assist the brothers’ doable resentencing and claimed that Lyle and Erik have been telling “lies” for many years.
Choose Jesic held a listening to on April 11 to announce that resentencing proceedings will proceed on April 17 and 18.
The place Are Lyle and Erik Now?
Each Lyle and Erik are serving their sentences on the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California. They had been reunited in 2018 on the jail, after initially being despatched to separate prisons following their 1996 conviction.
Throughout their time aside, Lyle spoke to PEOPLE in 2017, sharing that, regardless of the crime, the ordeal introduced them nearer. They stayed in contact by enjoying chess via the mail and writing letters to one another. “We’re not twins, however if you’ve gone via the form of chaotic childhood that we had, it’s nearly like you’re. You’ve got that bond and that shared expertise,” he stated.
