Photo: CDCR/MEGA
More than 30 family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, are publicly calling for their release from prison. The family spoke out during a press conference on Wednesday, October 16, outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
The Menendez brothers have long claimed they were sexually abused by their father, Jose, and their relatives are now rallying to present them as victims, not criminals. Numerous family members emphasized this abuse, urging a reassessment of the brothers’ case.
Brian A. Andersen Jr., the nephew of the brothers’ mother, Kitty Menendez, described Erik and Lyle at the time of the 1989 killings as “young, scared and abused.” He added, “They lived in constant fear” of their father, Jose.
Karen VanderMolen, the niece of Kitty, echoed these sentiments, stating, “The feeling in their house and the father and son interactions were just off.”
Mark Geragos, the post-conviction attorney for the Menendez brothers, pointed out that society’s understanding of sexual abuse has significantly evolved since the brothers’ trial. He argued that back then, it was harder for people to accept that men could be victims of sexual abuse. “If they were the Menendez sisters, they would not be in custody,” Geragos said. report from Yahoo.
The brothers’ family also directed supporters to an online petition, Justiceforerikandlyle.org, which advocates for their release. This public plea comes just weeks after Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced his office was “keeping an open mind” regarding the brothers’ bid to be resentenced.
Gascón, who acknowledged the brothers “were clearly the murderers,” emphasized the moral and ethical obligation to review the case. He said the evidence presented may have impacted jurors’ verdicts in their original trial, which resulted in first-degree murder convictions. Gascón extended an invitation to the Menendez family to speak with his office after the press conference.
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, who were fatally shot in their Beverly Hills home. Despite the brothers’ claims of abuse, prosecutors argued their motive was greed, citing a lavish spending spree after the killings.
