Menendez brothers Erik and Lyle have been granted an early parole suitability hearing, tentatively set for March 2027. The decision gives them another chance at release more than 1 year earlier than previously expected, as the Baltimore Chronicle notes.
ABC News reported the decision on September 7. The California Board of Parole Hearings publishes official hearing schedules and updates them weekly.
Why the Menendez brothers will return before the parole board
Erik and Lyle Menendez originally received life sentences without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
That changed in May 2025. A judge resentenced them to 50 years to life, making both brothers eligible for parole.
Their first attempt did not result in release. California parole commissioners denied both brothers parole in August 2025.
Prison conduct played a significant role. Commissioners examined disciplinary violations, including possession of prohibited cellphones. Their rehabilitation was weighed against their conduct behind bars.
The timeline has now changed:
- May 2025: the brothers were resentenced to 50 years to life.
- August 2025: both were denied parole.
- August 2028: their next hearing had previously been expected around this period.
- March 2027: the new parole suitability hearing is tentatively planned.
The earlier hearing does not mean the brothers will be released. The parole panel must again decide whether either man is suitable for parole.
Family says Erik and Lyle Menendez have changed in prison
Relatives have campaigned for resentencing and release for years. They argue that Erik and Lyle have accepted responsibility and changed during decades in custody.
The family told ABC-owned KABC that the brothers have spent almost 40 years confronting their actions and the trauma they say preceded the murders.
Relatives also pointed to prison programs established with their involvement. These include hospice work and a beautification initiative.
Their position contrasts with concerns raised during the 2025 hearings. Commissioners focused heavily on disciplinary history and decision-making in prison.
What happened in the Menendez brothers case
The prosecution argued that the brothers killed their wealthy parents for financial gain. Their defense presented a different account.
Erik and Lyle said they had suffered years of sexual abuse by their father. Their lawyers argued that fear and abuse formed the context for the killings.
The first proceedings ended with deadlocked juries. A second trial produced first-degree murder convictions in 1996.
The case now enters another significant stage. March 2027 could become the brothers’ next opportunity to convince California officials that decades in prison have changed their risk to society.
Key dates in the Menendez brothers parole case
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| José and Kitty Menendez killed | August 20, 1989 |
| First-degree murder convictions | 1996 |
| Resentencing to 50 years to life | May 2025 |
| Parole denied | August 2025 |
| New hearing | Tentatively March 2027 |
The precise March hearing dates remain subject to scheduling changes. California’s parole board publishes updated schedules each week.
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