Their story had marked the late 1980s and had fascinated the audience: two sons from a wealthy Beverly Hills family in California were tried and imprisoned for murder of their parents in their luxurious villa. On Friday (22.08.2025), the California Suspension Committee confirmed that the Laye and Eric Menendez brothers, today, 54 and 57, will remain in prison for at least three years.
In 1989, Layle and Eric shot with a carbine and murdered their parents, Jose and Kiti Menendez, in their villa in Beverly Hills. Their trial, broadcast television, had stuck the country and remains one of the most talked about criminal cases. They were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of suspension, but were able to seek condition after a reform of California’s law because they were under 26 years of age when they committed the crime.
Already on Thursday had been rejected by Eric Menendez’s request for release.
The brothers have been arguing for more than three decades of doing self -defense, accusing their parents of physical, psychological and sexual abuse. The #MeToo movement rekindled the debate about their categories, while an online wave of support was reinforced by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian.
A rigorous decision
The committee, however, ruled that the two brothers, today, 54 and 57, have not shown sufficient signs of reintegration. He recalled that one had used drugs and alcohol in prison, participated in trafficking and violent incidents. “Contrary to what your supporters believe, you have not been exemplary prisoners,” a member of the committee said.
Los Angeles prosecutor, Nathan Hellman, welcomed the decision, arguing that he “attributes justice to Jose and Kiti Menendez”. According to him, the brothers continue to “lie”, claiming that they have acted to defend themselves.
Last hopes
Despite this blow, Menendez’s lawyers do not leave. They are considering a new judicial proceedings citing recently disclosed evidence, such as a letter written by Eric before the murders referring to sexual abuse by his father, as well as the testimony of a former singer who complained that in the 1980s, Jose Menendez. At the same time, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom reserves the opportunity to reduce their sentence.