Parole Denied: Convicted Killer Erik Menendez Stays Behind Bars

Convicted murderer Erik Menendez has been denied parole after months of speculation that he might be walking free.

The California Parole Board held a ten-hour-long hearing on Thursday to discuss the case to determine if the 54-year-old still posed “a threat to society.” Menendez was found guilty of the 1989 murders of his parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez. His older brother, Lyle, 57, was also found guilty and will have a parole hearing on Friday.

Erik is not eligible for another parole hearing for three years.

“While we respect the decision, today’s outcome was, of course, disappointing and not what we hoped for,” several members of the Menendez family said in a statement, per CBS News. “But our belief in Erik remains unwavering, and we know he will take the Board’s recommendation in stride. His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he’s had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he is able to return home soon.”

The board heard statements of support from members of the Menendez family, but it wasn’t ultimately enough to convince the panel to grant Erik parole. 

“Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole,” Parole Board Commissioner Robert Barton said, as the outlet noted. “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.”  

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Barton also noted that the decision was swayed by Erik’s behavior in prison, which included multiple violations, such as inappropriate behavior with visitors, drug smuggling, misuse of computers, cell phone usage, and violence. The parole board commissioner said they were forced to evaluate all of the convicted felon’s behavior and chances of reoffending, not just his likelihood of committing murder.

The Menendez brothers insist that the killings of their parents were justified, claiming they endured sexual, emotional, and physical abuse from their father.

After they were initially sentenced to life in prison without parole, a Los Angeles judge resentenced both brothers to 50 years to life in May, making them eligible for parole. 

Judge Michael Jesic said he had given the case “long thought.” While the judge described Lyle and Erik’s crime as “absolutely horrific,” he added that, in his opinion, they’ve been rehabilitated while incarcerated for the past three decades.

“Life without parole gives an inmate no hope, no reason to do anything good. And I give them a lot of credit. It’s remarkable what they did when they had no hope of getting out,” Jesic said.

Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, a Democrat often described as “the godfather of progressive prosecutors,” initiated the resentencing process before losing his re-election bid to Nathan Hochman. In March, the new DA filed a motion to withdraw the resentencing petition, saying the self-defense claims were nothing but “lies.” 

“The Menendez brothers have failed to come clean with the full extent of their criminal conduct, their cover-up, their lies and their deceit,” Hochman said in May.