Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced his decision to recommend the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.
The brothers had received life sentences without the possibility of parole, but Gascón’s recommendation could alter that outcome. He explained that due to their ages at the time—Lyle was 21, and Erik was 18—California law allows them to be eligible for parole.
Gascón revealed the decision in a press conference on October 24, 2024, stating, “We’re going to recommend to the court that the life without the possibility of parole be removed and that they will be sentenced for murder… they will be eligible for parole immediately.” The brothers have served 35 years in prison, during which Gascón noted they have completed extensive rehabilitative work.
Critics, including former Los Angeles Times reporter Alan Abrahamson, maintain that the Menendez brothers should remain incarcerated. “Lyle and Erik Menendez are stone-cold killers,” Abrahamson said, adding that the severity of their crimes warrants their continued imprisonment.
The Menendez brothers gained national attention for the brutal nature of the murders, and their case has remained a subject of debate, with some arguing their abusive upbringing justifies reconsideration of their sentence. A hearing to finalize the court’s decision will take place soon.
