The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, brutally shot and killed their parents in August of 1989. So, why is there renewed interest from people, including those on social media, fighting for their release 35 years later?
When this case occurred, it gained extensive media coverage and the Menendez brothers received an abundance of mail and attention from people showing support. Yet, they also received a lot of backlash from people who saw them as “public enemies,” according to ABC News.
As perspectives and times change, America is again obsessed with the Menendez brothers and many believe they didn’t receive a fair trial.
“During their initial trial, defense attorney, Leslie Abramson contended that Lyle and Erik shot their parents in self-defense. She argued that the brothers feared their parents would kill them if they disclosed the years of alleged molestation they’d suffered at their father’s hands,” according to ABC News. Erik and Lyle were allegedly sexually abused by their father, Jose Menendez, their entire lives, and their mother, Kitty Menendez, even physically and psychologically abused them as well. The brothers were living in fear and believed their parents were going to kill them leading up to the murders.
Rosie O’Donnell befriended the Menendez brothers and expressed: “They were not horrible kids… They were severely, sadistically tortured by a pedophile predator father, and a very compliant and also involved mother, who had no interest in them.”
Some believe that they weren’t fairly convicted and that their abuse wasn’t taken as seriously because of their gender. ABC’s Terry Moran also explained, “I have always thought that if the Menendez brothers were the Menendez sisters, they’d be free today, would have been convicted.”
The jury in the first trial wasn’t able to come to a decision and it ended in a deadlock. After the second trial, both brothers were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. They’ve since been imprisoned for over three decades.
Through Ryan Murphy’s new crime drama series called, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the media’s attention has turned to the brothers once again. There’s been a resurgence of an incredible amount of support for the brothers.
“Let’s not forget TikTok, where a new generation is fueling a ‘Menendez Movement,’ reviving interest in the case and keeping them squarely in the spotlight,” states Forbes.
This resurgence sparked Kim Kardashian’s attention as she visited the brothers with Cooper Koch, who plays Erik in the Netflix series. Kardashian has become an advocate for criminal justice, helping those wrongly convicted or who she believes deserve shorter sentencing.
In addition to perspective shifting, new evidence has also been revealed, which many believe will give the brothers a chance at freedom. George Gascón, Los Angeles County District Attorney, has stood by the brothers, helping them petition Gavin Newsom, California Governor, to grant clemency. Clemency is an act of mercy to reduce someone’s punishment, permitted by a government official. This could lead to the brothers receiving a reduced sentence or being granted parole, allowing them to have a chance to live freely.
Gascón supports the Menendez brothers because he believes they’ve made significant contributions while in prison. Even though they didn’t expect to be released, they’ve worked on bettering themselves, as well as their community. Lyle recently received a degree from the University of California, Irvine through a prison program. They’ve both been working on a project to help their fellow prison mates with a Norwegian-style rehabilitation program. They’re also advocating for a more humane prison surrounded by nature, which they believe will lead to more successful reintegration into society.
Mark Geragos, their defense attorney, expressed “They have been model prisoners despite believing they would never be released.”
However, since both Lyle and Erik were under 26 years of age when they committed the crimes, if they were resentenced, they’d be eligible for parole immediately.
The second possibility for release is through the habeas corpus petition, which was filed last year for a review of the new evidence found but not presented at trial. One piece of evidence is a letter written by Erik Menedez to his cousin explaining the abuse in detail eight months before the murders. Another piece of evidence is another man who has stepped forward alleging that Jose Menedez also sexually abused him. These pieces of evidence could be an opportunity for the court to reopen proceedings or reverse the convictions.
The Mendez brothers not only have the support of the public but also unwavering support from their family. Most of them have supported the brothers the entire time. Geragos explains, “Twenty-four all signed a letter saying ‘Hey, we want them out as well.’ That is basically unheard of. In my 40 years of practice, I never had… a kind of a failings of victims who have all signed on to say ‘Enough is enough, we want them out.”’
Now, the Menedez brothers have to wait to hear their fate.
“If they don’t proceed with clemency, the brothers could either walk free on December 11 or wait for a hearing before the parole board,” according to Newsweek. There are also several strategies their defense is employing in this situation that could potentially lead to their release.
The Mendenz brothers’ story isn’t over and they’re still fighting for freedom with support from their family, Gascón, many celebrities, social media users and influencers, and much of America.
