Los Angeles’ district attorney (DA) announced that he does not support resentencing Lyle and Erik Menendez, who have been imprisoned for over three decades for the murder of their parents in 1989. Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman stated that he is withdrawing a previous request made by his predecessor for resentencing. He cited that the Menendez brothers have consistently lied about their motivations for the crime and have not fully taken responsibility for their actions.
The Menendez brothers, who claim they acted in self-defense following prolonged abuse by their father, were earlier considered for resentencing by former DA George Gascón. Gascón had promised to re-examine the case in light of increasing awareness and empathy for victims of sexual abuse. The 1989 case, which saw the brothers killing their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills home, recently resurfaced in the public eye due to a documentary series and a true-crime drama on Netflix.
Beginning in August 1989 with the shooting of the Menendez parents, the years following their murder unraveled a complex legal saga. The brothers were arrested in 1990, with charges of first-degree murder brought against them. Both faced trial in 1993, with separate juries unable to reach a verdict after hearing the claims of financial motive juxtaposed with the brothers’ defense of abuse.
Their retrial in 1995 excluded much of the initial defense claims, leading to their conviction of first-degree murder in 1996 and resulting in life sentences without parole. Subsequent appeals were repeatedly denied by both state and federal courts, despite ongoing efforts by the brothers to reopen the case.
In recent years, discussions of potential resentencing returned to the forefront, prompted by new claims of abuse against their father from a former boy band member. Legal representatives for the brothers also cited a letter written by Erik alleging abuse, attempting to paint a fuller picture of the factors leading up to the crime.
Efforts to revisit the brothers’ sentences persisted into 2024 and early 2025, with Netflix releasing a series chronicling the events, igniting renewed public interest. Family members pleaded for the brothers’ release based on shifting societal perceptions of sexual violence against boys, a topic less understood during the original trials.
Despite this resurgence in attention, Nathan Hochman, upon assuming the role of district attorney, firmly opposed the request to resentence, casting doubt on the credibility of abuse claims, including the aforementioned letter. Consequently, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom directed a thorough risk assessment of the Menendez brothers, aiming to evaluate their potential threat if released.
In March 2025, Hochman restated his opposition due to the brothers’ alleged dishonesty regarding their motives. He maintained that their claims of self-defense were unsupported, diminishing the likelihood of a resentencing reversal. The saga continues with the legal future of Lyle and Erik remaining uncertain, as discussions about abuse, justice, and rehabilitation intersect in this high-profile case.
