Over a dozen family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez demand their liberation from jail

October 17, 2024

Updated: October 17, 2024

LOS ANGELES —⁤ A significant gathering of relatives of Erik and Lyle Menendez took place on Wednesday, where they passionately appealed‍ for ‌the release of the brothers⁤ who‍ have⁣ been incarcerated for the murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home 35 years ago.

“The abuse they endured from my⁢ brother-in-law was beyond our comprehension. We were all in the dark,” expressed Joan Andersen VanderMolen,⁣ sister of Kitty Menendez. “We now understand that the impact of abuse is long-lasting, and victims of such trauma may react in ⁣ways that are hard to comprehend.”

“The⁤ world was not prepared to accept that ⁤boys could be victims of sexual assault,” she added, “but today, we are more enlightened.”

The press conference held ‍in downtown Los Angeles marked the largest assembly ⁤of the extended family since the sentencing of the brothers in 1996. This ⁤public plea for their release comes on the heels of the announcement by the Los Angeles County⁢ district attorney that his office would be reassessing new evidence to determine if the brothers’ life sentences are justified.

Currently, the brothers are serving life sentences in state‍ prison⁢ with no chance of parole.

At ⁤the time of the crime, Lyle Menendez was 21⁤ and Erik Menendez was 18. They confessed to fatally shooting their father, entertainment executive Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez, in 1989. They claimed they acted out of fear that their parents were planning to kill them to prevent the revelation of the father’s long-term sexual abuse of Erik.

However, prosecutors argued that there was‍ no evidence of any abuse and suggested that the brothers were motivated by their parents’ substantial fortune.

“They defended themselves the only way they knew how,” stated Brian⁢ A. Andersen Jr., nephew of Kitty Menendez. “Instead of being recognized as‌ victims, they were demonized.”

“They no longer‍ pose a threat to society,” he added.

Other family members echoed these sentiments. ⁤”If⁣ Lyle and Erik’s case were ⁣tried today, with our current ⁣understanding of abuse and PTSD, I am ‍confident their sentencing would be drastically ⁣different,” said Anamaria Baralt, a niece of Jose Menendez.

While many relatives are advocating for the brothers’ release, Kitty Menendez’s brother, 90-year-old Milton Andersen, expressed through his attorney that he ⁢believes life in prison without the possibility of parole is the “appropriate sentence”. Andersen was not available for an interview.

“He is convinced that no molestation took place. He believes the motive was⁣ sheer greed, ⁤as‍ they had just discovered they ⁣were being written ‍out of the will,” said Kathy Cady, Andersen’s attorney.

Bryan Freedman, the attorney representing ⁤the extended family, has previously stated their strong support for the brothers’ release.

“For years, I grappled with the tragedy that befell my sister’s family,” said Joan⁣ VanderMolen.

District Attorney George Gascón has acknowledged that there is no doubt the brothers committed the 1989 murders. However, after reviewing‌ the new evidence,‌ his office will decide whether a⁢ resentencing is warranted in this high-profile case that garnered national attention.

The new evidence includes a letter penned by Erik Menendez, which his attorneys claim supports the allegations of sexual abuse by his father. A hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 29.

The brothers’ attorneys have argued that the family believed from the outset⁢ that the charges should have been manslaughter, not murder. Manslaughter was not an option for the jury during the second trial that led to the brothers’ murder‍ conviction,‍ according to⁣ attorney Mark Geragos.

The case‌ has recently gained renewed interest after Netflix started streaming the true-crime drama “Monsters: The Lyle and ⁢Erik Menendez Story.”

The brothers have maintained that they killed their parents in ⁢self-defense after enduring⁤ a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Their attorneys argue that due to evolving‍ societal views on sexual abuse, the brothers may not have been convicted of first-degree murder ‌and sentenced to life without parole if tried⁣ today.

In 1996, the jury opted for life without parole over a death sentence.