Erik and Lyle Menendez’s fate remains uncertain, as California Governor Gavin Newsom has placed their potential prison release on hold. The governor will wait for newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to thoroughly investigate the brothers’ case.
Hochman, who won the election on November 5, will enter office on December 3 and has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation of the high-profile murder case. “I will carefully review all available facts, including confidential prison files, trial transcripts, and speak with key parties involved,” Hochman told the newsroom.
The brothers, who are now 56 and 54 years old, have been serving life sentences without parole since 1996 for murdering their parents in 1989. Recent streaming documentaries have sparked renewed public interest in their case, focusing on allegations of sexual abuse by their father.
Newsom’s office stressed respect for the next district attorney’s role, indicating they will consider Hochman’s analysis before making clemency decisions. This pause effectively removes outgoing DA George Gascón’s previous support for a possible resentencing.
Two recent documentaries—Peacock’s “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” and Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”—have focused attention on the case. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian have supported these shows, which have revealed new evidence.
A resentencing hearing for the brothers is scheduled for December 11, at which LA Superior Court Judge William Ryan may drop the charges to manslaughter or order a fresh trial. Before that, a status hearing will be held on November 25 in the Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Hochman has warned against jumping to conclusions based only on media portrayals. “You can’t decide this case just by watching a Netflix documentary,” he said during “Good Morning America.” “We must look deeper and consider all aspects of the case.”
As the legal process continues, the Menendez brothers’ fate remains uncertain. Their potential release is contingent on Hochman’s full study of their decades-long case.
