The California Board of Parole has granted Erik and Lyle Menendez an early parole suitability hearing, tentatively scheduled for March 2027. The brothers had previously been eligible to apply for their next hearing in August 2028, meaning the new date moves their opportunity forward by more than a year.
The advancement was made under provisions of Proposition 9, a 2008 California law that allows a parole hearing date to be moved up when there is a change in circumstances or new information suggesting the inmate may be suitable for release. The brothers were denied parole at their first hearing in August 2025, three months after they were resentenced from life without parole to 50 years to life.
This article covers what the advancement means, how it happened, the full legal timeline of the case from the 1989 murders through the 2025 resentencing and parole denial, how California’s parole process works, and what the March 2027 hearing will actually determine.
What the Parole Board Decided and Why
The California Board of Parole Hearing granted the earlier date under two provisions within Proposition 9, which was passed by California voters in 2008. Despite being primarily designed to strengthen the rights of crime victims, the law also includes provisions that allow a prison inmate’s parole hearing to be advanced if there is a change in circumstances or new information indicating the person may be suitable for parole.
Erik and Lyle Menendez were granted an early parole suitability hearing on Monday, tentatively scheduled for March 2027.
The pair were initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
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The specific “change in circumstances” or new information that prompted the advancement has not been publicly detailed by the Board. However, Fox News and the Orange County Register both confirmed that the Proposition 9 provisions were the legal basis cited.
It is important to understand what this advancement does and does not mean. The earlier hearing date gives the brothers the opportunity to appear before the parole board sooner, but it does not guarantee release. The March 2027 hearing will be a parole suitability hearing, at which the board will evaluate whether Erik and Lyle Menendez are suitable for release based on their conduct, rehabilitation record, risk assessment, and the circumstances of the original crime.
The Family’s Reaction
The Menendez family released a public statement through a spokesperson, expressing gratitude for the decision. The statement said that for “almost 40 years, Erik and Lyle Menendez have worked to take responsibility for their actions, confront and heal from the unimaginable abuse and trauma they endured, grow as individuals, and dedicate themselves to serving others.”
The statement continued: “Erik and Lyle were once sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. We will always be profoundly grateful that they have been resentenced and that our family can now imagine a future in which they are once again part of our everyday lives.”
The family described the decision as bringing them “immeasurable joy” and said they were “incredibly proud of the men they have become.”
Timeline: The Menendez Case From 1989 to 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 20, 1989 | Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez are shot and killed in their Beverly Hills home |
| March 1990 | Erik (18) and Lyle (21) Menendez are arrested |
| 1993 to 1994 | First trial ends in mistrials for both brothers after juries deadlock |
| 1995 to 1996 | Second trial results in first-degree murder convictions for both |
| July 1996 | Both brothers sentenced to life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) |
| 1996 to 2024 | Brothers incarcerated in separate California prisons for most of this period |
| 2024 | Then-LA County DA George Gascon supports resentencing; Netflix series and documentary generate renewed public interest |
| November 2024 | Resentencing hearing postponed; incoming DA Nathan Hochman requests time to review the case |
| May 2025 | Judge resentences both brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law |
| August 2025 | Both brothers denied parole at their first parole suitability hearing |
| September 2025 | Judge rejects the brothers’ habeas petition for a new trial |
| September 2026 | California Board of Parole advances their next hearing to March 2027 under Proposition 9 provisions |
| March 2027 (tentative) | Next parole suitability hearing |
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The Crime: What Erik and Lyle Menendez Were Convicted Of
On August 20, 1989, Lyle Menendez (then 21) and Erik Menendez (then 18) shot and killed their parents, entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, inside the family’s Beverly Hills mansion using shotguns.
The brothers initially denied involvement. They were arrested in March 1990 after Erik confessed to his therapist, whose mistress later provided recordings to police.
The case went through two trials. The first, in 1993 to 1994, was televised nationally and ended in mistrials when juries could not reach unanimous verdicts, with some jurors sympathetic to the brothers’ claims of sexual and psychological abuse by their father. The second trial, in 1995 to 1996, resulted in first-degree murder convictions for both brothers, and they were sentenced to life without parole.
The defense argued throughout both trials that the killings were committed after years of sexual abuse by Jose Menendez, abuse that the brothers said extended into their teenage years. Prosecutors contested these claims, arguing the murders were motivated by greed and a desire to inherit the family’s wealth.
Fact Box: Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victims | Jose and Kitty Menendez |
| Date of crime | August 20, 1989 |
| Location | Beverly Hills, California |
| Convicted | Erik Menendez (now 55) and Lyle Menendez (now 58) |
| Original sentence | Life without parole (July 1996) |
| Resentenced | 50 years to life (May 2025) |
| First parole hearing | August 2025 (denied) |
| Next parole hearing | March 2027 (tentative) |
| Current prison | Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, San Diego |
Why the Brothers Became Eligible for Parole in 2025
The key legal development that made any parole hearing possible was the May 2025 resentencing. For nearly three decades, the brothers’ original sentence of life without the possibility of parole meant they had no path to release.
That changed because of a California law that allows resentencing for offenders who committed their crimes while under the age of 26 and who have served more than 25 years. Both brothers were under 26 at the time of the 1989 murders, and both had served more than 35 years by the time their resentencing petition was heard.
The resentencing hearing involved testimony from family members and others who spoke on the brothers’ behalf. The judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life, which under California law automatically made them eligible for parole consideration.
The then-LA County DA George Gascon had supported the resentencing. His successor, Nathan Hochman, who took office in December 2024, opposed it but was unable to prevent the judicial decision.
What Happened at the August 2025 Parole Hearing
Following the resentencing, parole hearings for both brothers were scheduled and held in August 2025. The hearings were their first opportunity to make a case for release before the California Board of Parole.
Both were denied.
The specifics of the Board’s reasoning have not been fully reported in public, but the denial meant the brothers’ next opportunity to seek parole was originally set for August 2028, consistent with California’s standard intervals between hearings. It is this August 2028 date that has now been moved forward to March 2027.
Separately, in September 2025, a judge also rejected the brothers’ habeas petition seeking a new trial based on new evidence, closing another legal pathway they had pursued.
How California’s Parole Process Works
For readers unfamiliar with how parole works in California, a few procedural points help explain what the March 2027 hearing will involve.
California’s parole suitability hearings are conducted by panels of the Board of Parole Hearings. The panel evaluates several factors when determining whether an inmate is suitable for release, including the nature and circumstances of the original crime, the inmate’s behavior and disciplinary record while incarcerated, their participation in rehabilitative programming, letters of support or opposition from victims’ families and the community, and an assessment of the risk the inmate would pose if released.
If the panel finds the inmate suitable for parole, the decision is reviewed by the full Board and then by the Governor of California, who has the authority to reverse a grant of parole in certain cases. The entire process from a favorable hearing to actual release, if parole is granted, can take several additional months.
If the panel denies parole, the inmate is given a future hearing date, typically set at intervals of three, five, seven, ten, or fifteen years, depending on the circumstances. Proposition 9’s provisions, which were used to advance the Menendez brothers’ hearing, allow that interval to be shortened when new information or changed circumstances warrant it.
What Changed Between August 2025 and September 2026
The specific new information or changed circumstances that prompted the Parole Board to advance the hearing have not been publicly disclosed. However, several developments occurred in the intervening period that may be relevant:
- The brothers have continued to be housed together at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, which was itself a change from the decades during which they were kept in separate prisons.
- Their legal team has continued to advocate publicly for their release.
- The family has maintained a visible public campaign in support of parole.
- Public interest in the case remains high, sustained in part by the 2024 Netflix dramatization and documentary.
Whether any of these factors played a role in the Board’s decision is not confirmed, and the Board has not issued a public explanation beyond the Proposition 9 citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Menendez brothers’ next parole hearing?
The next parole suitability hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 2027, moved up from the previously expected date of August 2028.
Why was the hearing moved up?
The California Board of Parole advanced the hearing under provisions of Proposition 9, a 2008 law that allows hearing dates to be moved forward when there is a change in circumstances or new information suggesting suitability for parole.
Were the Menendez brothers already denied parole?
Yes. Both were denied parole at their first hearing in August 2025, three months after being resentenced to 50 years to life.
Does the earlier hearing date mean they will be released?
No. The advancement gives them the opportunity to appear before the parole board sooner, but the board must still determine whether they are suitable for release.
Why did the Menendez brothers kill their parents?
The brothers claimed the murders were committed after years of sexual and psychological abuse by their father, Jose Menendez. Prosecutors argued the killings were motivated by greed.
How long have the Menendez brothers been in prison?
They have been incarcerated since their arrest in March 1990, more than 36 years as of September 2026.
Where are the Menendez brothers now?
Both are housed at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.
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Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
