Could the Menendez brothers be released? Los Angeles DA is reviewing new evidence

The case of the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in Los Angeles in 1989, has become of interest to the public in recent years. Similar to Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was found guilty of aiding in the murder of her mother as a minor, some criminal justice advocates believe that they should be considered for early release as there is evidence that they were abused as children and that said abuse contributed to their motivation to kill their parents. As possible victims of child abuse, the court may consider their actions in a different light than that which they were cast in during their trial, which paid very little credence to their claims that they grew up suffering abuses from their parents. The court sentenced both brothers to life in prison. During the second trial (the first ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a conclusion), the judge limited the defense’s ability to highlight the role the abuse played as a motivating factor in the murders.

The family of the brothers held a press conference earlier today. Anamaria Baralt, the cousin of Lyle and Erik Menendez, described the two men as “victims of a culture that was not ready to listen.” During the more than three decades the brothers have been in prison, the factors that influence people to take certain actions, particularly in cases of abuse, are considered when it comes to the charges and sentences brought and determined by the courts.

Los Angeles District Attorney says his office is reviewing new evidence

The Los Angeles District Attorney, George Gascón, has shown some signals that he is sympathetic to the arguments made by the family. Earlier this month, D.A. Gascón posted on social media that his office was reviewing new evidence supporting the claim that the brothers had been abused by their father, but the post was quickly taken down. This strange incident on social media follows a press conference hosted by the D.A. on October 3, where he said that his office was in possession of two pieces of evidence brought to his team by the legal team of the brothers. One of those is thought to be the letter that was mentioned in the since-deleted post.

Talia Menendez, the daughter of Erik Menendez, runs a social media account raising awareness about the case and informed her followers that by mid-December, the D.A. will have decided whether to alter the sentence handed down thirty-four years ago. In her post from early October, Ms. Menendez explained that D.A. Gascón could vacate the sentence and allow the brothers to be released based on the time they have already served, limit the sentence to three to five more years, send the case to a parole board, or leave the current sentence in place. NBC News has reported that the D.A. will determine the fate of the brothers in the next ten days. In other words, if he chooses to vacate the sentence, the brothers could be heading home very soon.