Erik Menendez was denied parole Thursday after making his first bid for freedom before California's parole board, three decades after killing his wealthy parents in Beverly Hills.
The younger of the notorious Menendez brothers appeared virtually from San Diego prison wearing a blue jumpsuit, pleading his case during a marathon 10-hour hearing that ultimately ended in disappointment.
Parole board commissioner Robert Barton delivered the denial, telling Erik he wasn't ready for release despite believing in redemption.
"Based on the legal standards, we find that you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety," Barton said after the lengthy deliberation.
The board specifically cited Erik's prison violations and past criminal activity before the 1989 murders. Barton bluntly told the 54-year-old that he hadn't been "a model prisoner," which the panel found "disturbing."
Erik can attempt parole again in three years, but the denial shifts focus to Governor Gavin Newsom, who's separately considering a clemency request from both brothers. Clemency could result in reduced sentences or pardons without overturning their convictions.
During the emotional hearing, Erik grew tearful, describing the moment he opened fire on his parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with a shotgun as they watched TV in their Beverly Hills mansion.
"I just want my family to understand that I am so unimaginably sorry for what I have put them through from Aug. 20, 198,9, until this day," Erik said before learning his fate.
The brothers shot their parents more than a dozen times, with Erik reloading and continuing to fire on his mother. They've long claimed self-defense, alleging years of sexual and emotional abuse.
A prosecutor from the LA district attorney's office argued against Erik's release, claiming his positive behavior changes were motivated only by the chance of freedom. They maintained he remains "an unreasonable risk to society" with "no insight into his crimes."
The parole board questioned Erik about his time in prison and legal troubles before the killings, including involvement in two burglaries. He claimed prison helped him develop a "moral guardrail."
However, the panel examined his prison transgressions, including fights and multiple contraband violations. He'd been caught with a cell phone, art supplies, and tobacco hidden inside a religious book.
A risk assessment classified Erik as a "moderate" risk if released, but the board weighed this against the brutal nature of the murders, which they called "devoid of human compassion."
Erik's brother Lyle faces his own parole hearing g Friday before a different panel. Their conduct behind bars and before the 1989 killings differs, potentially leading to different outcomes.
During Thursday's hearing, relatives who've advocated for the brothers' release testified on Erik's behalf. Teresita Menendez-Baralt, Jose's sister, broke down in tears while speaking to the panel.
"If Erik is granted parole, it would be a blessing," she said, revealing she's dying from stage four cancer. "I hope I live long enough to welcome him into my home, to sit at the same table, to wrap my arms around him."
The brothers' high-profile murder trials defined the 1990s. During proceedings, they claimed self-defense and alleged years of abuse from their parents. Prosecutors painted them as greedy killers who planned the murders and then went on a $700,000 spending spree.
They purchased a Porsche, a Jeep, and Rolex watches with their parents' estate before being arrested after admissions to a psychologist surfaced.
Three decades later, the case gained renewed attention through TikTok, Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," and celebrity advocacy. New evidence and California's evolving approach to juvenile offenders and abuse survivors prompted reexamination.
A change in state law allows offenders under 26 at the time of their crime to be sentenced as minors. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when they killed their parents.
Despite new LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposing resentencing, a judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life with a parole possibility in May. Hochman accused Erik of displaying "narcissistic and antisocial traits."
The brothers have three potential paths to freedom: parole (now delayed for Erik), clemency from Governor Newsom, or a new trial based on additional evidence. A judge is considering the new trial request, though the DA's office opposes it.
Weighing clemency for such a high-profile case could be politically risky for Newsom, who's considered a potential presidential contender.
Erik's parole denial represents a significant setback after decades of legal battles and renewed public interest in their case. The decision suggests California's parole system remains skeptical of releasing those convicted of particularly brutal crimes, regardless of time served or claims of rehabilitation.
His emotional plea for family healing fell short of convincing the board he no longer posed a public safety risk. The focus now turns to Lyle's Friday hearing and whether his different prison record might yield a different result.
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