Menendez Brothers Case Gets Huge Update, Release Appears Likely: DETAILS
It appears momentum is growing for Erik and Lyle Menendez to be freed from prison.
Erik and Lyle are both currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole after being convicted of the brutal murder of their parents.
The two gunned down José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez in 1989 in their Beverly Hills mansion. The two maintained they did it because they were brutally sexually abused by their father. The prosecution argued the murders were motivated by greed and José's fortune.
Now, after decades behind bars, it appears they could go free very soon.
Erik and Lyle Menendez might be freed from prison. (Credit: Getty Images)
Los Angeles County District Attorney supports resentencing the Menendez brothers
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced during Thursday press conference that he will recommend a judge resentence the two men on murder charges. Due to the fact they were both under the age of 26 at the time of the killings, they are immediately eligible for murder.
Gascón said during the press conference he does believe Erik and Lyle were victims of molestation. He also said the pair "paid their debt to society" after spending decades in prison.
Deadline reported earlier Thursday that this was likely going to be Gascón's call. You can watch the press conference below.
The brothers also filed a writ of habeas corpus asking the court to vacate their 1996 conviction based on a claim that their father drugged and raped Roy Rosello. This was paired with the existence of a letter from Erik prior to the killings claiming abuse.
Erik and Lyle Menendez are serving life sentences after murdering their parents. Both have long claimed they were victims of terrible sexual abuse. (Photo by Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)
The case is back under a spotlight as a new generation learns about the famous case from the 1990s, and a Netflix series from Ryan Murphy took things to a new level.
On top of that, Netflix also released a popular documentary featuring the two. The documentary and series from Murphy resulted in a new push for the two to be freed on the basis they were too severely punished if they are telling the truth about being sexually abused.
Again, the prosecution maintained at the time the sole motive was greed.
The situation remains fluid. Check back for more updates as we might have them, and let me know if you think they should be freed at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.