Los Angeles County DA Recommends Resentencing of Menendez Brothers

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has announced that he is recommending that the Menendez brothers, who murdered their parents with shotguns in 1989, be resentenced. This will begin a judicial process that gives them a new chance at freedom.

The Recommendation

Today, at a press conference in LA, the DA said that after careful review, he believes Erik and Lyle Menendez should be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

The Background

The Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in a second trial. The case captured the world’s attention in the early 1990s, with details of the gruesome crime becoming a true crime sensation.

The New Development

The DA’s recommendation comes as the case gained attention again due to a new Netflix series, “Monsters: The Menendez Brothers,” and a new documentary by director Alejandro Hartmann. The brothers’ extended family has also been vocal in their support of their release.

The Reasons Behind the Recommendation

Gascón believes the brothers have paid their debt to society and have been on a journey of redemption and rehabilitation since their conviction. He acknowledged that some in his office still believe the brothers should spend the rest of their life in prison, but he believes their age at the time of the crime and their rehabilitation efforts warrant a new look at their sentence.

The Next Steps

If Judge William C. Ryan agrees with the DA’s recommendation, the brothers will appear before the parole board. However, according to Michael Romano, director of the Three Strikes Project at Stanford Law School, a parole board hearing may take time, and even though they become immediately eligible, there is a long wait list.

Reactions to the Recommendation

Gascón’s opponent, Nathan Hochman, has criticized the timing of the recommendation, calling it “incredibly suspicious.” However, Romano believes that Gascón’s decision is based on his opposition to sentencing 19- and 21-year-olds to life without parole.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Menendez brothers’ crime? The Menendez brothers were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with shotguns in 1989.
• What is the DA’s recommendation? The DA is recommending that the brothers be resentenced to life with the possibility of parole.
• Why is the DA making this recommendation? The DA believes the brothers have paid their debt to society and have been on a journey of redemption and rehabilitation since their conviction.
• What is the next step? If the DA’s recommendation is accepted, the brothers will appear before the parole board. However, a parole board hearing may take time, and even though they become immediately eligible, there is a long wait list.
• How does the DA’s opponent, Nathan Hochman, feel about the recommendation? Hochman has criticized the timing of the recommendation, calling it “incredibly suspicious.”

This story has been updated.