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Erik and Lyle Menendez were originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996. On May 13, 2025, a judge resentenced each brother to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole—but not guaranteeing release. Each was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to murder.
How many years did the Menendez brothers get?
| Stage | Sentence | What it meant |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 sentencing | Life in prison without the possibility of parole | The original sentence after their murder convictions. |
| May 13, 2025 resentencing | 50 years to life for each brother | Made them eligible to seek parole; it did not order their release. |
The May 2025 resentencing changed the prison term, not the first-degree murder convictions. The Los Angeles County district attorney said the brothers became immediately eligible for parole, while the parole board and governor would determine whether they could be released: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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What were Erik and Lyle Menendez charged with and convicted of?
Each brother was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the August 1989 killings of their parents, as well as one count of conspiracy to murder. The murder verdicts included special-circumstance findings for lying in wait and multiple murder. Those findings are distinct from the murder counts themselves.
The court imposed consecutive life-without-parole terms for the murder counts in 1996. Each brother also received a 25-years-to-life term for conspiracy to murder, but that term was stayed under California Penal Code section 654, so it was not an additional term being served alongside the murder sentences. The Los Angeles County DA summarizes the charges, verdicts, and sentencing history in its case FAQ.
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How did the trials lead to the convictions?
The brothers were tried separately in 1993, but neither jury reached a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. At the 1995 retrial, much of the defense evidence concerning alleged sexual abuse was excluded. The brothers’ defense argued they acted out of an honest but unreasonable belief that they were in danger and therefore should be convicted of manslaughter; prosecutors argued the abuse allegations were fabricated. These are competing accounts, and the allegations should not be mistaken for findings established by the verdict.
In 1996, the retrial juries convicted both brothers of first-degree murder, and they received life without parole. The DA’s case FAQ recounts the trial history and the parties’ positions. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when the killings occurred, according to the DA.
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Are the Menendez brothers eligible for parole now?
Yes. The 50-years-to-life sentences made them eligible for parole because they were under 26 when the crimes occurred. Eligibility is not the same as release: parole is decided through the state process, rather than granted automatically by resentencing.
Both brothers were denied parole in August 2025. The Associated Press reported that their petitions for earlier hearings were granted and that their next hearings were tentatively moved to March 2027; the date and outcome remain subject to change. Associated Press coverage.
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Did a judge also grant them a new trial?
No. Resentencing and a request for a new trial are separate legal matters. On September 17, 2025, a judge denied the brothers’ habeas petition seeking a new trial. The Los Angeles County DA said the court found the petition’s evidence would not have created reasonable doubt and that the findings of premeditation, deliberation, and lying in wait remained supported. That is the DA’s characterization of the ruling; it does not change the fact that the resentencing altered the prison term while leaving the convictions in place. Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office statement.
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