A Potential Resentencing for the Menendez Brothers

By Addison Feldman, November 2nd 2024

LA district attorney believes Lyle and Eric Menedez deserve resentence after murdering their parents in 1989. A letter about the brothers' assaults from their dad has been found and sent in as new evidence.  

The Menedez brothers were 21 and 18 when they killed their parents. Many say it was just for the money, and others empathize for the brother and what they went through in their home environment. The kids had been assaulted by their dad since they were five or six and claim that they killed their parents out of the fear of their lives. Lyle, and Eric are now fifty-three and fifty-six years old and the Los Angeles District attorney George Gascon strongly believes the brothers deserve a resentence. He believes the thirty-four years the brothers have spent and their efforts to rehabilitate should give them the opportunity to be resentenced. Gascon says, “I strongly support clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez.” CNN has noted that there will be a hearing for their resentence on December 11, “where the law is right now and given the way their assessment of the way they have behaved in prison, they deserve the opportunity to be reevaluated and perhaps reintegrated into this community.” Gascon states.  

This case has shifted many people's perspectives. It highlights changing attitudes towards abuse and its negative long-term effects it can have on a person. The possible resentence shows how the growing understanding of abuse may influence bad or criminal behavior. Especially among youthful offenders. It has helped broaden the understanding and intricacies. The knowledge long term will help focus on prevention strategies, policy, and the trauma it has on its survivors. 

Two new Netflix series have been released about the brother's case! Monsters, which was a drama series about the case and a documentary called “The Menedez Brothers.”