Erik Menendez has been hospitalised, leading his lawyer to request his release from prison in advance of an upcoming parole hearing. At 57 years old, Menendez, alongside his brother Lyle, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents in California. However, recent judicial decisions have seen the brothers resentenced to a term of 50 years to life, rendering them eligible for parole.
Their parole hearing is scheduled for late August, and should the state parole board deem them suitable for release, Governor Gavin Newsom will need to approve the decision. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Erik Menendez had been transferred to an external medical facility due to serious health concerns and has remained hospitalised until recently, presenting in fair condition.
Lawyer Mark Geragos has indicated that Erik is facing a significant health issue and should be granted a prison furlough, similar to those given to certain inmates during the COVID-19 crisis. While he did not specify the nature of Menendez’s illness, Geragos argued that granting Erik temporary release is the “only fair and equitable thing to do” to allow him adequate preparation time for his parole hearing.
Despite Geragos confirming these details, he was not available for further interviews. Commenting on the case, Newsom’s office and a representative for the Menendez family declined to provide statements.
Additionally, a judge has mandated that Los Angeles prosecutors justify why the murder convictions of the Menendez brothers should not be reassessed, given new evidence that supports their assertions of being sexually abused by their father. While the brothers’ defence previously argued that their actions were a result of years of trauma, the prosecution claimed they committed the murders to seize a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
This recent judicial order was prompted by a habeas corpus petition that the Menendez brothers filed in May 2023, aiming for a review of their convictions, which is a separate process from their resentencing appeal.