After nearly thirty years in prison, the Menendez brothers can potentially be resentenced. The brothers have been incarcerated since 1996 after being found guilty of the double homicide of their parents. Recently, the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story premiered and reignited attention to the brothers' case. Despite some story inaccuracies, people have been sympathetic as the gruesome case was reintroduced to a new generation. Now, it seems that the show is doing the brothers some good.

The Menendez Brothers

On August 20th, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, Kitty and José Menendez, as they were watching TV in their home. The brothers used shotguns purchased only days before killing their parents. They shot their mother ten times and their father six. It's reported that the brothers disposed of their clothes and the weapons they used and then went around town attempting to secure an alibi. Eventually, once they returned home, they called the police and reported that someone had killed their parents. Of course, an investigation quickly showed that the brothers were the culprits.

While initially, the prosecution attempted to frame the murders as financially driven, there was no evidence to support that claim, so it wasn't allowed to be used in court. The brothers stated, and have maintained, that their sole motivation for the murders was the abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents. They specifically cited the long-term sexual abuse at the hands of their father, José; it seemed that Erik was the primary or sole victim of the sexual abuse.

After emotional and disturbing testimonies from the defense, the jury was deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared. The Menendez brothers were then retried and found guilty, then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Netflix Series

In September, Netflix released Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, produced by Ryan Murphy. The show was based on the real-life Menendez brothers' case, though some of the series was dramatized. Murphy and Netflix were criticized after it came to light just how much of the show was inaccurate and painted the brothers in an unsavory light.

The controversy, potentially more so than the show, sparked sympathy for the brothers once people learned about their case. The part of the case that angered people the most was the aspect of the alleged sexual abuse. Petitions were created to have the D.A. look into the case again, hoping the brothers could gain their freedom.

Potential Resentencing

On October 24th, 2024, the L.A district attorney, George Gascón, said he would go before a judge and request that the Menendez brothers be resentenced for their crimes. He is asking that the sentence be changed from life without parole to one of fifty years, making them eligible for parole immediately. Of course, parole is always subject to approval, so it wouldn't guarantee their freedom but instead allow them to earn it.

He said, "I believe they have paid their debt to society." It's unclear when this will happen, but supporters of Lyle and Erik celebrate, feeling vindicated in their fight for the brothers' freedom.