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Gone quiet · last update Sep 18, 2026 / Lyle Menendez

The Menendez brothers' resentencing and their parole denials

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 1989 shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills, were resentenced in May 2025 to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.[1][2] A California parole board denied both brothers release that August, and a judge rejected their bid for a new trial.[3][4] The board has since moved their next parole hearing up to March 2027.[1]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

A California parole board denied both brothers release that August, and a judge rejected their bid for a new trial.[3][4] The board has since moved their next parole hearing up to March 2027.[1]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

May 2023: average weekly share under 1% (left 0%, center 0%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 9% (left 2%, center 5%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 6% (left 1%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 9 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (26 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Sep 14, 20260202 of 480under 1%
Sep 7, 2026514423 of 4805%
Sep 15, 2025511319 of 19110%
Aug 18, 20251534857 of 19130%
Aug 11, 20251102 of 1811%
May 19, 202536312 of 1976%
May 12, 20251025843 of 20221%
May 5, 20252507 of 2013%
Apr 14, 2025222327 of 20113%
Apr 7, 2025414321 of 19411%
Mar 17, 20251359 of 1955%
Mar 10, 2025519428 of 19814%
Feb 24, 202535311 of 1976%
Feb 17, 2025315422 of 19411%
Jan 13, 202517311 of 2285%
Dec 30, 20241438 of 1954%
Nov 25, 20241027643 of 17824%
Nov 18, 2024213318 of 2258%
Oct 28, 202427110 of 1965%
Oct 21, 202412251047 of 19924%
Oct 14, 202438415 of 1958%
Oct 7, 20241102 of 2051%
Sep 30, 20241219738 of 22217%
Sep 23, 20243205 of 2142%
Sep 16, 20242316 of 2093%
May 1, 20230011 of 256under 1%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Sep 18, 2026 · first reported · Headline from NBC Boston

    Menendez brothers' next parole hearings tentatively set for February 2027

Background

Renewed attention to the case followed Netflix's 2024 series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," which Erik Menendez criticized.[5][6] In October 2024, Los Angeles prosecutors said they were reviewing new evidence,[7] more than a dozen relatives called for the brothers' release,[8] and Kim Kardashian wrote that they "are not monsters."[9] George Gascón said he would recommend resentencing[10] and supported the brothers' bid for clemency.[11] Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would defer his clemency decision until the newly elected district attorney took office.[12]

Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)

That district attorney, Nathan Hochman, recommended in February 2025 that a judge reject the brothers' request for a new trial,[13] and in March he said he would not support resentencing, arguing that they had not fully taken responsibility; the family rejected the claim.[14][15] Newsom directed the parole board to assess whether they would pose an unreasonable risk if released.[16] A judge allowed the resentencing to go ahead over Hochman's objections,[17] and in May resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, with the possibility of parole.[2]

In August 2025, after two days of hearings, a parole board denied both brothers release,[18][3] and in September a judge rejected their request for a new trial.[4] In September 2026 the parole board granted them an earlier hearing, tentatively set for March 2027, about 17 months sooner than expected, under a provision of a 2008 state law.[1]

Supporting stories (18)
  1. Erik and Lyle Menendez eligible to face parole board again in spring 2027
  2. Menendez brothers resentenced, now eligible for parole
  3. Both Menendez brothers denied parole
  4. California judge denies Menendez brothers' petition for new trial in 1989 murders of their parents
  5. Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monster’ Anthology Series To Focus On Erik & Lyle Menendez For Season 2 At Netflix
  6. Menéndez Brothers’ Family Slams Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monsters’ As “Repulsive”
  7. Los Angeles prosecutors to review new evidence in Menendez brothers' 1996 murder conviction
  8. Menendez brothers' relatives speak out at news conference, calling for their release from prison
  9. Kim Kardashian Calls for Release of Menendez Brothers After Prison Visit: “They Are Not Monsters”
  10. Resentencing recommended for Menendez brothers for 1989 killings of their parents
  11. Menendez brothers receive support for clemency from Los Angeles County DA George Gascón
  12. California governor will not make clemency decision for Menendez brothers until new DA reviews case
  13. Los Angeles DA urges judge to deny Menendez brothers’ request for a new trial
  14. Menendez brothers’ bid for freedom hits roadblock: Los Angeles DA Hochman opposes resentencing
  15. Family of Menendez brothers reject prosecutor criticism and lead rally for their release
  16. Menendez Brothers: Newsom calls for 'risk assessment' probe
  17. Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Hearing Can Proceed, Judge Rules
  18. Menendez brothers receive parole hearings after decades in prison

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 36 recorded updates

September 2026

  1. Menendez brothers' next parole hearings tentatively set for February 2027Headline from NBC Los Angeles · 2 outlets
  2. Erik and Lyle Menendez eligible to face parole board again in spring 2027Headline from Bangor Daily News · 24 outlets

September 2025

  1. California judge denies Menendez brothers' petition for new trial in 1989 murders of their parentsHeadline from ABC 7 San Francisco · 21 outlets

August 2025

  1. Both Menendez brothers denied paroleHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 58 outlets
  2. Menendez brothers receive parole hearings after decades in prisonHeadline from UPI · 37 outlets

May 2025

  1. Menendez brothers’ parole hearing delayed until AugustHeadline from New York Post · 14 outlets
  2. Menendez brothers resentenced, now eligible for paroleHeadline from KTVU San Francisco · 50 outlets
  3. Menendez brothers lawyers to urge judge to remove prosecutors from caseHeadline from The Guardian · 7 outlets
  4. Re-sentencing hearing for Menendez brothers to begin this weekHeadline from Times Of San Diego · 7 outlets

April 2025

  1. Menendez brothers face LA hearing on resentencingHeadline from UPI · 11 outlets
  2. The Menendez brothers’ bid for a shorter sentence and possible parole is delayed againHeadline from The Columbian · 19 outlets
  3. Menendez brothers' family blames graphic photo shown in court for aunt's hospitalizationHeadline from NBC New York · 9 outlets
  4. Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Hearing Can Proceed, Judge RulesHeadline from Deadline · 26 outlets

March 2025

  1. Family of Menendez brothers reject prosecutor criticism and lead rally for their releaseHeadline from Daily Journal · 7 outlets
  2. DA says he would reconsider resentencing only if Menendez brothers admit to 'lies'Headline from ABC 7 New York · 2 outlets
  3. Gavin Newsom announces when Menendez brothers' will have Parole Board hearingHeadline from Foxla · 6 outlets
  4. Menendez brothers’ bid for freedom hits roadblock: Los Angeles DA Hochman opposes resentencingHeadline from New Hampshire Union Leader · 32 outlets

February 2025

  1. Family of Menendez brothers react after Newsom orders risk assessment of possible releaseHeadline from ABC 13 Houston · 2 outlets
  2. Menendez Brothers: Newsom calls for 'risk assessment' probeHeadline from Foxla · 14 outlets
  3. Los Angeles district attorney to update public in Menendez brothers' resentencing caseHeadline from MyNorthwest · 4 outlets
  4. Los Angeles DA urges judge to deny Menendez brothers’ request for a new trialHeadline from KESQ Palm Springs · 22 outlets

January 2025

  1. Menendez brothers resentencing hearing rescheduled due to LA wildfiresHeadline from NBC New York · 13 outlets
  2. New LA district attorney meets with Menendez brothers' family as he continues to review the caseHeadline from MyNorthwest · 9 outlets

November 2024

  1. Should sex abuse evidence set the Menendez brothers free? A judge will decide.Headline from MyNorthwest · 12 outlets
  2. Judge delays resentencing hearing for Menendez brothersHeadline from KESQ Palm Springs · 42 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →