March 2027 parole hearings
Menendez brothers granted parole suitability hearings now scheduled for March 2027
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Key Points
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Attorneys for the brothers filed a habeas corpus petition in May 2023 citing new evidence, including former boy-band member Roy Rosselló’s allegation that José Menendez sexually assaulted him in the 1980s.
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The brothers’ first trial ended with a hung jury and a mistrial before their 1996 convictions in a second trial.
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At trial, the brothers argued they acted in self-defense after years of alleged abuse, while prosecutors maintained that greed was the motive and pointed to the brothers’ lavish spending after the killings.
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A Netflix series about the case helped renew public attention and fueled a campaign by supporters seeking the brothers’ release, according to Fox News.
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The brothers will remain incarcerated at a San Diego prison while awaiting the next steps before the March 2027 hearing.
Erik and Lyle Menendez have been granted parole suitability hearings in March 2027, moving their next review forward by more than a year from the originally scheduled August 2028 date LAIST. The brothers, convicted in 1996 of killing their parents José and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989, were resentenced in 2025 to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole consideration under California's youth-offender provisions Audacy.
Why Earlier Parole Hearings Are Now Possible
California Proposition 9 allows the parole board to advance a hearing when changed circumstances or new information suggest an inmate may be suitable for release LAIST. Both brothers were under 26 at the time of the 1989 murders—Erik was 18 and Lyle 21—which triggered California's youth-offender provisions after their 2025 resentencing Audacy. The earlier hearing date does not guarantee freedom but signals the board believes circumstances warrant a fresh review.
Denied at First Hearings Over Prison Conduct
The brothers faced their first parole hearings after resentencing but were denied release. Prison officials reported they possessed illegal cellphones and had alleged gang ties, which influenced the board's decision LAIST. Despite the denials, both brothers have worked on rehabilitation projects, including helping establish a hospice program and creating Green Space, a prison beautification initiative Audacy.
New Evidence Reignites Debate Over Guilt and Abuse
Attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition in May 2023 citing new evidence, including allegations by former boy-band member Roy Rosselló that José Menendez sexually assaulted him in the 1980s LAIST. At their 1996 trial, Erik and Lyle argued they acted in self-defense after years of alleged abuse, while prosecutors claimed greed was the true motive, pointing to lavish spending after the killings. The brothers' first trial ended in a mistrial with a hung jury before convictions came in the second trial LAIST.
Netflix Documentary Fuels Public Support Campaign
A Netflix series about the case renewed public attention and spurred supporters to campaign for the brothers' release Fox LA. Their family welcomed the March 2027 hearing announcement, citing the brothers' accountability and rehabilitation efforts. The brothers remain incarcerated at a San Diego prison while awaiting the next steps before their scheduled hearing, though the new date carries no guarantee of parole.
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