Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted in 1996 for murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, were denied parole this week in California despite a wave of public sympathy fueled by documentaries, dramatizations and social media campaigns that cast new light on their case.
The brothers, now in their mid-50s, were resentenced in 2023 to terms of 50 years to life, making them newly eligible for parole. Their hearings came just months after a surge of renewed attention: Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story topped global charts in 2024, while a companion documentary featuring the brothers’ own voices drew millions of viewers. TikTok clips, podcasts, and celebrity advocates, including Kim Kardashian, helped reframe their story for younger audiences, highlighting