After spending over thirty years imprisoned, Eric and Lyle Menendez are moving closer to potential release following a judge’s decision to reduce their double murder sentences. Originally sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, their sentences have now been modified to a term of 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
At the time of their crimes, which took place in the late 1980s, the brothers were both under the age of 26. The ruling offers them a glimmer of hope for future freedom, as it allows the California criminals to apply for parole under the new terms of their sentencing.
In an interview with A Current Affair, former mafia figure Michael Franzese, who shared a prison cell with Lyle, revealed that Lyle disclosed details of the abuse he reportedly endured from their parents. According to Franzese, Lyle expressed to him that he believed there was significant abuse and fear linked to their father. "I asked questions about the crime, and he told me about the abuse. I believed him; there was some level of abuse there, no question in my mind," Franzese stated.
This new development means that the California parole board will have the authority to determine whether Eric and Lyle, now aged 54 and 57, will be granted freedom after decades behind bars. Their case continues to draw public interest, and the parole board’s decision remains to be seen as they navigate the complexities surrounding their past and the allegations of childhood trauma.