District Attorney George Gascón Cites New Evidence Ahead of November 26 Hearing
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that his office is reviewing the Menéndez brothers’ murder case, citing two new factors that prosecutors are considering ahead of a hearing next month. During a press conference on Thursday, Gascón said the review could lead to potential resentencing or even a new trial for Lyle and Erik Menéndez. A court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
The Menéndez brothers have been incarcerated for nearly 35 years for the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. Prosecutors originally argued that the brothers’ motivation was financial, pointing to their extravagant spending following their parents’ deaths.
However, the Menéndez brothers maintained that they acted in self-defense, claiming they had endured years of sexual abuse by their father, José Menéndez. Their first trial, which garnered widespread media attention, ended in a mistrial due to divided juries.
The evidence that is under review involves a letter allegedly written by Erik Menéndez months before the killings, in which he details sexual abuse at the hands of their father. Gascón acknowledged the evidence and the evolving understanding of sexual abuse, suggesting that these factors warrant a reexamination of the brothers’ sentences. Despite the conviction, Gascón emphasized that the new revelations merit a closer look at the case.
The Menéndez brothers, now in their 50s, have spent decades in prison for one of the most infamous crime cases in modern U.S. history. Their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez were shot multiple times with a shotgun in their home on the night of Aug. 20, 1989.
Producer Ryan Murphy, who co-created the recently released limited series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, told Variety Magazine “We gave them their moment in the court of public opinion. Basically, we did give them a platform. I think they can be out of prison by Christmas. I really believe that.”
