Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Hearing Rescheduled Following Testimonies
In a recent hearing on November 25, Kitty Menendez’s older sister, Joan VanderMolen, expressed her heartbreak over the alleged abuse endured by her siblings, Lyle and Erik Menendez, at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez. "It pains me that Kitty knew about it and did nothing, or at least nothing that we know of," the 92-year-old told the judge at Van Nuys Courthouse in California. She emphasized the fear the brothers lived with, never knowing if that night would bring further tragedy. “It’s time for them to come home,” she stated.
Judge Michael Jesic postponed the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing, originally set for December 11, to January 30, 2024. He indicated that he required additional time to review extensive documents related to the case. “I’m not ready to go forward,” he told the attorneys present.
Lyle and Erik are presently serving life sentences for the shotgun murders of their parents over three decades ago. Although they were scheduled to join the hearing virtually from prison, technical difficulties prevented their appearance.
During the hearing, the brothers’ 85-year-old aunt, Terry Baralt, also spoke, stating, “I believe 35 years is enough time. They should be allowed to come home.”
Ahead of the hearing, a lottery was held for the public to obtain one of the limited courtroom seats available, highlighting the interest in the case.
The Menendez brothers’ renewed effort for release began in May 2023 when their legal team filed a petition in court. This petition includes new evidence supporting their claims of abuse, such as a letter from Erik to a cousin mentioning their father’s alleged assaults, along with an affidavit from a former member of the boy band Menudo, Roy Rosselló, who claimed he was also abused by Jose in the 1980s.
Interest in their case has surged in recent months, particularly with the release of Netflix documentaries focusing on their story, portraying them in a more sympathetic light.
On October 24, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced he would recommend that the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life, allowing for the possibility of parole. Gascón noted that he was confident of the brothers’ rehabilitation and their readiness to reintegrate into society after serving their time.
However, Gascón’s term has come to an end, and Nathan Hochman, the incoming district attorney, plans to thoroughly review the case, including all trial records and evidence before making any decisions.
Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that he will wait for Hochman’s review before considering clemency for the brothers.
Lyle and Erik were 21 and 18 years old, respectively, when they shot their parents in their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989. The brothers claimed the murders resulted from years of abuse at the hands of their father, which they allege their mother ignored. Despite this, prosecutors argued that their motives were driven by greed, citing the brothers’ lavish spending following the killings.
In 1996, after a retrial ended with a conviction for first-degree murder, the siblings were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
If you or someone you know is struggling with issues related to sexual abuse, help is available through various support organizations.
