Lyle Menendez Denied Parole in Beverly Hills Murder

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SAN DIEGO, Lyle Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989, was denied parole Friday in his first appearance before the California Board of Parole Hearings.

The decision means Menendez, 57, will remain behind bars for the foreseeable future. His brother, Erik Menendez, was denied parole the day before in a separate hearing. Both hearings were conducted via video conference from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

The California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH), part of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, consists of 21 full-time commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Each commissioner serves a three-year term, with parole hearings typically conducted by panels of two to three commissioners.

The board evaluates candidates for parole based on legal standards, past behavior, and the perceived risk to public safety. In Lyle Menendez’s case, the board concluded he remains an “unreasonable risk” to the public.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has the authority to review the board’s recommendation within 30 days. He can choose to affirm, reverse, or take no action, in which case the board’s decision stands.

The hearings follow a resentencing in May, when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the Menendez brothers’ life-without-parole sentences to 50-to-life. This change made both men eligible for parole consideration for the first time.

Parole hearings also involve comprehensive risk assessments by forensic psychologists. Newsom explained that these individualized evaluations were conducted to gauge each brother’s likelihood of reoffending and overall rehabilitation. The assessments rated both brothers as “moderate risk,” an increase from previous evaluations.

During Erik Menendez’s hearing on Thursday, Commissioner Robert Barton emphasized that past misconduct in prison contributed to the decision. Erik had been cited for possessing contraband, including cell phones, and participating in drug-related and tax-fraud activities. Barton noted that, while the family’s forgiveness is meaningful, it does not determine parole eligibility.

Lyle Menendez faced similar concerns. Prosecutors cited his use of contraband, including a cell phone, and reported instances of deceit during his incarceration. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted that Lyle’s behavior reflected an ongoing “entitlement and willingness to meet his own needs” rather than evidence of rehabilitation.

The Menendez brothers were 18 and 21 when they fatally shot their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, at the family’s Beverly Hills home in August 1989. The defense claimed years of abuse motivated the killings, but the prosecution argued the murders were premeditated and motivated by financial gain. The trial, televised nationwide, concluded in 1996 with convictions for both brothers.

The parole decisions mark the latest chapter in one of the most infamous criminal cases of the 1990s. With both men denied parole, they will continue serving their sentences, though the legal process allows for future eligibility based on continued assessments of rehabilitation and public safety risk.