Parole Board Denies Lyle Menendez Release

On Friday, California’s parole board turned down Lyle Menendez’s request for parole, marking this as his first opportunity to appear before them. The decision arrived just a day after his brother, Erik, faced the same outcome from the board. Both brothers will have the chance to petition for parole again in three years.

Lyle attended the hearing via video link from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and they were evaluated separately. Parole Commissioner Julie Garland noted some concerns regarding Lyle’s potential risk to the public.

“The panel has found today that there are still signs that Lyle poses a risk to the public,” Garland stated.

While acknowledging the genuine remorse he expressed, she mentioned that despite being a model inmate in many respects, Lyle continues to struggle with issues like deception and rule-breaking. These traits, she said, lie beneath his otherwise positive demeanor.

Garland did offer some words of encouragement, reminding the brothers not to lose hope.

“This denial is not … it’s not the end,” she said. “It’s a way for you to spend some time to demonstrate, to practice what you preach about who you are, who you want to be.”

Additionally, the board referred to Lyle’s history of rule violations, including unauthorized cellphone use while incarcerated.

“You seem to be different things at different times,” noted Deputy Parole Commissioner Patrick Reardon.

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Ethan Milius criticized Lyle for failing to show any personal growth.

“When he commits a violation, he lies about it and tries to avoid responsibility,” Milius remarked.

Erik Menendez’s hearing also concluded with a denial of his parole request. Commissioner Robert Barton highlighted the seriousness of Erik’s actions, which included involvement in a prison gang tax scheme.

“I believe in redemption or I wouldn’t be doing this job … but based on the legal standards, we find that you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety,” Barton explained.

He added that while family forgiveness is commendable, that doesn’t eliminate the assessment of their parole suitability: “Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you and you can still be found unsuitable for parole.”

The California Board of Parole Hearings has not recommended Lyle Menendez for release, keeping him behind bars. Governor Gavin Newsom will have a month to decide whether to approve, reject, or take no action concerning the board’s choice.

If the governor remains silent, the board’s decision will stand. Newsom described the process of evaluating the Menendez brothers’ parole status in a recent press briefing.

Prior to making a decision, individualized risk assessments were conducted by a team of forensic psychologists on both brothers.

“We thought that would be prudent to do,” he mentioned, noting that these evaluations had been debated among various parties, including the district attorney and the victim’s family.

The Menendez brothers have openly admitted to killing their parents but claimed it was in self-defense following years of abuse.

“I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification,” Lyle expressed in a court statement. “The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable.”

Prosecutors argue that the killings were premeditated acts to access their parents’ wealth.

The case gained renewed attention in May 2023, when the brothers’ legal team requested a new trial based on newly surfaced evidence, which included a letter from Erik that alluded to ongoing abuse and claims from Roy Rosselló stating he had been drugged and raped by their father.

Rosselló, a former member of the band “Menudo,” maintains that he was sexually assaulted by José Menendez in the 1980s, which arguably supports the brothers’ claims of mistreatment.

In October 2024, the then-Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón advocated for the brothers to be resentenced, making them immediately eligible for parole. However, after he lost the election to Nathan Hochman, that recommendation was retracted.