Menendez, initially convicted for the murders he committed decades ago, was recently denied parole, remaining incarcerated.
Erik Menendez Denied Parole After Emotional Hearing
Erik Menendez, one of the infamous Menendez brothers, was denied parole during his hearing on Thursday. The panel of two parole commissioners found him unsuitable for release, citing his behavior in prison, burglaries he participated in before the murders, and the killings of his parents as factors.
Menendez appeared via videoconference from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. During the hearing, he offered his most detailed account in years of his upbringing and the reasons for his choices.
Menendez claimed he was not raised with a moral foundation and was taught to lie, cheat, and steal by his father. He spoke about his relationship with his father, who he said sexually abused him for years. This revelation was a significant part of Menendez's evolution and growth, he stated.
Menendez expressed regret about shooting his mother, saying "I wish to God I did not do that." When asked why he killed his mother, he responded that he did so because he found out that his mother knew about the abuse. This lack of empathy and reason was criticized by commissioner Robert Barton of the California parole board.
The commissioners also cited Menendez's affiliation with a prison gang and having a cellphone in violation of the rules as evidence of his risk to public safety. Menendez admitted to drinking alcohol in prison to numb his sadness and using a cellphone because the benefits outweighed the consequences of getting caught.
More than a dozen of Menendez's relatives delivered emotional statements at the hearing, including his aunt Teresita Menendez-Baralt, Jose Menendez's sister, who has fully forgiven him and wishes to welcome him into her home. Another relative promised to house Menendez in Colorado, where he can spend time with his family and enjoy nature.
The Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996, but after a reduction of their sentences to 50 years to life in May, they became eligible for parole. Lyle Menendez, the other brother, is set to appear for his parole hearing on Friday. The brothers still have a pending habeas corpus petition seeking a review of their convictions based on new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father.
After being denied parole, Menendez's spokesperson stated that their belief in him remains unwavering and they will continue to stand by him. The brothers' case continues to generate interest and debate, as the public grapples with the complexities of their upbringing and the crimes they committed.
