No bail for Erik Menendez even after 35 years. Here's everything about the case on which Netflix has even made movie about

Erik Menendez has once again been denied parole, more than three decades after he and his brother Lyle were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.

On Thursday, a panel of two California commissioners ruled that Erik will remain behind bars for at least three more years, despite strong pleas from family members for his release. His brother Lyle is scheduled for a separate parole hearing on Friday at the same San Diego prison.

Why Erik Was Denied Parole

Commissioners said their decision was based less on the severity of the crime and more on Erik’s prison record. They reviewed years of disciplinary violations, including allegations of drug use, contraband cellphones, gang ties, and even tax-related misconduct. Erik admitted he broke rules in prison when he believed he had “no chance” of ever being released.


Still, prosecutors argued that he has not fully accepted responsibility for the murders, questioning whether his remorse is genuine.

The Murders That Shocked Beverly Hills

In 1996, the Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison for killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. While defense lawyers claimed the killings were an act of self-defense after years of alleged sexual abuse, prosecutors argued it was motivated by greed for their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

The case, one of America’s most infamous true crime sagas, has been revisited through documentaries and dramatizations, including the 2024 Netflix movie The Menendez Brothers and the series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Erik’s Transformation in Prison

Supporters, including several relatives, testified that Erik has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2013. He has embraced faith, achieved sobriety, started programs to help elderly inmates, and promised to live peacefully if released. His aunt, who is battling cancer, even offered to house him if granted parole.

Despite these appeals, the board found him unsuitable for release. Commissioner Robert Barton summed it up: “Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole.”

What’s Next

Lyle Menendez faces his parole hearing next, while both brothers continue to pursue a habeas corpus petition seeking a review of their convictions based on claims of sexual abuse by their father.

For now, Erik Menendez remains incarcerated, 36 years after the night that forever changed his family and gripped America’s attention.