Why Was Erik Menendez Denied Parole, and What About Lyle?

On August 21, the California Board of Parole denied Erik Menendez parole after a hearing that lasted almost ten hours. The 57-year-old, who was convicted alongside his brother, Lyle, of the 1989 brutal double murder of their parents, will not be eligible for parole again for three years. But the Menendez family is “cautiously optimistic” that Lyle will be granted parole after his own hearing today. Here’s what to know.

Why was Erik Menendez denied parole?

The California Board of Parole argued that the 57-year-old would “pose an unreasonable risk to public safety” if he were released. Commissioner Robert Barton said the main reason for this decision was not the severity of his parents’ murders but his misbehavior in prison. Barton described Erik’s repeated unauthorized use of cell pho