Lyle Menendez denied parole after brother’s denial the day before

Lyle Menendez, 57, was denied parole Friday by a California board, a day after his younger brother Erik was also rejected in his bid for release from the San Diego prison where the two have spent nearly 35 years.

On Thursday, parole commissioners told Erik Menendez that despite strong family support, his conduct in custody — including repeated cellphone violations — showed he remained unwilling to follow rules. 

“Contrary to your supporters’ beliefs, you have not been a model prisoner,” commissioner Robert Barton said, describing his behavior as “selfish” and “disturbing.”

The panel ordered Erik to remain incarcerated for at least three more years. The decision left him visibly shaken, even as he listened intently to Barton, who added: “Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole.”

The hearings for both brothers were the closest they have come to release since their life sentences were reduced in May, making them eligible for review.

The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, inside the family’s Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989. 

Prosecutors argued they killed to gain access to a multimillion-dollar inheritance, while defense attorneys contended they acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father. The jury sided with prosecutors.

After the killings, the brothers embarked on a spending spree, purchasing luxury cars, watches, trips abroad and, in Lyle’s case, a New Jersey restaurant. They were arrested in 1990, after Erik confessed to his therapist.

At Thursday’s hearing, Barton underscored the brutal nature of the crime, particularly the “execution-style” killing of Kitty Menendez. “The killing of your mother especially showed a lack of empathy and reason,” he said. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had rage to that level, ever.”

Nearly 35 years later, the Menendez case remains etched in American memory as one of the most sensational parricide trials of the 20th century. Friday’s ruling means both brothers remain behind bars, their supporters’ calls for forgiveness once again unanswered.