Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Recommended by Prosecutors

Following the resurgence of public interest — and the very public activist work of Kim Kardashian — L.A. district attorney George Gascón will recommend resentencings for the Menendez brothers, who are currently serving life without the possible of parole. “After a very careful review of all the arguments that were made for people on both sides of this equation, I came to a place where I believe that under the law, resentencing is appropriate, and I am going to recommend that to our court tomorrow,” Gascón said at a press conference October 24, accompanied by the brothers’ aunt on their mother’s side Joan Andersen VanderMolen and several additional family members. Prosecutors are seeking 50 years to life. If the judge agrees to the resentencing, because they were both under 26 when they committed the crimes, they would be immediately eligible for parole.

“They have been in prison 35 years,” Gascón said. “I believe they have paid their debt to society, and the system provides a vehicle for their case to be reviewed by a parole board. And if the parole concurs with my assessment, and it will be their decision, they will be released accordingly.” The Menendez brothers’ family led the demands for a reconsideration of their case in light of new evidence, including allegations of sexual abuse against their father. Support was amplified recently by Ryan Murphy’s drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and a Netflix documentary.