LOS ANGELES (Court TV) — For the first time, the public is hearing the audio from the parole hearings of Lyle and Erik Menendez, revealing in the brothers’ and the board’s own words why their bid for freedom was denied. After more than three decades behind bars for the infamous murders of their parents, the board cited recent prison infractions, including the possession of contraband cellphones, as proof they still pose a risk to public safety.
In the newly released audio, the parole board can be heard focusing on recent violations as the primary reason for denying both brothers’ release. Erik Menendez was cited in March 2025 for possessing a cellphone and receiving a watch as an unauthorized gift. The board noted that Lyle Menendez also had a recent cellphone violation. The commissioners explained that they viewed these actions as continued “anti-social” behavior and an inability to follow rules, questioning how the brothers could be trusted in society if they could not adhere to regulations inside prison.
Court TV’s Trial Archives: CA v. Menendez (1993)
FILE – Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave a courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 6, 1990, after a judge ruled that conversations between the brothers and their psychologist after their parents were slain were not privileged and could be used as evidence. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)…