Key Takeaways
- L.A. District Attorney, George Gascon, is pushing for the release of the Menendez Brothers.
- Rehabilitation efforts in prison may justify release, but public opinion is divided.
- There are ethical concerns over releasing convicts of heinous crimes like the Menendez Brothers.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has been a huge hit on Netflix ever since it launched on the platform back in September 2024. It has created renewed interest in their case, with a focus on the evidence presented in the trials that led to their life imprisonment. The re–examination of the case in light of the drama series as well as the new documentary, has seemingly helped in their bid for freedom. However, the question remains: Do the Menendez Brothers deserve to be released after the brutal slaying of their parents back in 1989?
Lyle and Erik Menendez claim they were sexually abused by their father, Jose, and this is why they stormed into their Beverly Hills mansion with shotguns, and brutally murdered him and their mother, Kitty. The Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascon, has recently called for the Menendez Brothers to be re-sentenced, which could lead to the pair being eligible for parole sooner rather than later.
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The Menendez Brothers Could Be Released From Prison Before The End Of The Year
George Gascon believes the Menendez Brothers have served their time, and deserve a chance to experience freedom once again. The L.A. District Attorney is pushing for them to be re-sentenced, and has launched a petition to get the ball rolling. According to laws in California, as they were both under 26 when they committed the heinous double murder, they would supposedly be eligible for youth parole. Coupled with the fact that they have served over 30 years for the crime. The petition is set to be put in front of a judge, who will decide the Menendez Brothers’ ultimate fate.
Erik and Lyle were fighting to get released long before Ryan Murphy’s true-crime series came out, but the reaction to Netflix’s hit drama has not done their campaign any harm. It raised the issues surrounding the sexual abuse the brothers claim happened, and this appears to be their biggest defense against the brutal crimes they committed. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996 in a joint trial, after separate trials ended in hung juries. Their defense team pushed the self-defense angle, but it didn’t land with the jury. However, society has changed in the intervening years, and it’s possible the brothers would be treated differently in 2024. A court date has been set for December 11 to decide Lyle and Erik’s fate, but there are strong voices on both sides over whether they deserve to be set free. In addition to this, a habeas corpus hearing is also set for November 26 and this will take into account ‘new evidence’ their defense team claim has come to light about the alleged molestation the brothers suffered.
Lyle And Erik Have Seemingly Rehabilitated During Their Stint In Prison, But Is That Enough To Justify Their Release?
Lyle and Erik Menendez have undoubtedly done good things during their incarceration. They’ve helped inmates who have suffered sexual abuse, and launched successful programs. However, does this ‘supposed’ rehabilitation mean they should be released? George Gascon thinks it does justify the Menendez brothers’ clemency, and he opened up about his views during a press conference to announce the petition on October 29, 2024:
We’re very sure, not only that the brothers have rehabilitated and that they will be safe to be reintegrated in our society, but that they have paid their dues.
This petition just so happens to coincide with Gascon’s bid for re-election as DA, so a cynical person might argue that his stance is a way to obtain votes. He’d certainly get the nod from the TikTok generation who have launched their own campaign to get the Menendez brothers out of prison. Gascon has conceded that members of his own team might opt to voice their own concerns about the release of the double murderers, but he welcomes their view, and will happily debate it with them. The question is: Would Lyle and Erik’s potential release send out a dangerous message to other people who commit brutal crimes? Under no circumstances is it acceptable to murder people even if they have done wrong. It sets a very dangerous precedent, and for that reason, maybe it’s the best course of action to keep these two murderers locked away for life.
They did the crime, so they should do the time. By all means, they should continue their good work behind bars, working with other prisoners, and help to improve the system. Also, the sexual abuse claims arguably haven’t been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The $15 million inheritance they obtained after the murders feels like more of a motive for murder, especially as they dedicated so much time to spending it before they were eventually brought to justice. Sure, if the Menendez Brothers were released from prison, its unlikely they would commit murder again, but that’s not a good enough reason to set them free. In reality, the court of public opinion will likely see them walk free, and they’ll be strutting around Beverly Hills once again, with their millions of dollars in blood money intact.