Why are the Menendez brothers still in jail?

August 25, 2025

Over the weekend, both Erik and Lyle Menendez were denied parole by a California review board. The brothers have spent more than three decades in prison for murdering their parents. Renewed interest in the case saw them resentenced in May, marking what many saw as their best chance at freedom in over 30 years. But the parole hearings revealed previously unknown details about their conduct behind bars.

Today we're unpacking what came out in these hearings, the violations that swayed the board's decision, and what avenues remain for the brothers' potential release.

Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy TassellProducer: Orla Maher

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Why are the Menendez brothers still in jail?