The Menendez brothers had their sentences reduced. What's next?
The brothers have argued that they committed the crimes in self-defense after years of abuse by their father.
On Tuesday, the brothers were granted their first chance at freedom in decades. A Los Angeles judge reduced the brothers' sentences from life in prison without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole.
Advertisement
Here's what to know:
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Why is the case famous?
Coming on the heels of the O.J. Simpson trial, the nation was hungry for true crime TV. The brothers' first trial was one of the first to be almost entirely televised on Court TV. It spawned documentaries, television specials and dramatizations.
The Netflix drama " Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story " and the documentary 'The Menendez Brothers,' released in the fall of 2024, have been credited for bringing new attention to the case.
What happened at resentencing?
The brothers' lawyers turned to family members and those who knew the brothers since their conviction to speak to their character and rehabilitation in prison in front of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic.
The Menendez family have supported the brothers and called for their release since their resentencing effort began last fall.
Advertisement
Prosecutors, who have opposed the brothers' resentencing, did not call any witnesses. They've argued the brothers haven't taken full responsibility for their crimes.
Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared virtually to read their statements to the court.
'You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better,' Erik Menendez said, addressing his family.
Jesic issued his decision immediately after the brothers spoke, granting them a new sentence of 50 years to life.
How soon could they go before the parole board?
The brothers are immediately eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law because they committed the crime at ages 18 and 21, both under the age of 26.
Parole suitability hearings are conducted by a state board to determine if a person should be released. An inmate will be scheduled for their first hearing no later than six months following their eligibility date, according to board policy.
They already have a hearing before the board scheduled for June 13 in a clemency petition they've submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom. It's not yet clear if that will serve as their formal parole hearing or if a separate one will be scheduled.
Newsom ordered the state parole board to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for him to determine their danger to the public if released.
Anne Bremner, a trial lawyer in Seattle, said the brothers will have some pressure on them to prepare for the parole board and impress upon them that they should be let out.
'My guess is the parole board has been watching this and of course they've done these risk assessments already,' she said. They know 'who these two are, what their alleged crimes were and what they've done since the time that they were incarcerated until today.'
Advertisement
What happens if parole is denied or granted?
If they are denied at their first parole hearing, they will continue to receive subsequent hearings until they are granted release.
If parole is granted, Newsom could still move to override the board. If he lets the parole decision stand, the brothers would be released from prison.
What other avenues do they have for release?
In May 2023, the brothers' attorneys also filed a petition for habeas corpus to the court, asking for a new trial in light of new evidence of their sexual abuse. LA prosecutors have filed a motion opposing that petition, but its status is unclear.
Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
4 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new crime thriller series looks like a mystery-laced revenge story — here's the first trailer
Netflix just dropped the first trailer for 'Two Graves,' a new Spanish crime thriller series directed by Goya Award-winning filmmaker Kike Maíllo. The story follows a grandmother's frantic search for her missing granddaughter and her friend, who vanished mysteriously two years earlier. What starts as a quest for answers quickly spirals into a relentless pursuit of revenge. 'Two Graves' is set to premiere on Netflix on August 29, and judging by the trailer, it looks pretty brutal. The trailer introduces Isabel (Kiti Mánver), the grandmother of one of the missing girls, who, with nothing left to lose, takes justice into her own hands and launches an off-the-books investigation. We also meet Rafael (Álvaro Morte), the father of the other girl who went missing alongside Isabel's granddaughter. In the trailer, Isabel confronts him directly, accusing him of knowing more than he's letting on. He simply responds with: 'I owe my daughter this revenge.' This is a clear signal that the story will shift from a slow-burn mystery into full-blown revenge thriller territory. The rest of the footage is pretty brutal at times. Quick flashes show Isabel smashing someone's knee with a hammer in a desperate attempt to extract information, and another scene depicts someone being crushed under the weight of a car. It's gritty, violent, and clear that neither character is holding back anymore. Along with the first trailer, we also got an official synopsis: 'Two years after the disappearance of Verónica and Marta, two 16-year-old friends, the investigation is declared closed due to lack of evidence and suspects. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'The grandmother of one of the two girls, Isabel, who has nothing to lose, decides to carry out an investigation beyond the law. Isabel will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth about what happened that night and what begins as the search for a culprit, soon becomes a story of revenge.' The rest of the cast includes Hovik Keuchkerian, Nadia Vilaplana, Joan Solé, Zoe Arnao, Nonna Cardoner, Carlos Scholz, and Salva Reina. 'Two Graves' was created by Agustín Martínez and helmed by director Kike Maíllo. With a track record of emotionally gripping and visually compelling movies, Maíllo's distinctive style will likely be instantly recognizable in this upcoming series. He first gained major recognition with 'Eva,' a sci-fi thriller that won him the Goya Award for Best New Director. His subsequent works, such as 'Toro' and 'A Perfect Enemy' show his versatility in crafting tension-filled narratives across genres. Martínez is a celebrated Spanish novelist and screenwriter, best known for crime dramas like 'Monteperdido.' When creating 'Two Graves,' he told Netflix: 'Two Graves is a revenge story led by a character rarely seen at the heart of fiction, someone who could only find her place on a platform like Netflix: a grandmother willing to do whatever it takes to seek justice for the loss of her granddaughter. 'A thriller full of emotion and unexpected twists, brought to life by Kiti Mánver, Álvaro Morte and Hovik Keuchkerian, characters I truly enjoyed writing.' Even though 'Two Graves' isn't officially labeled as a revenge thriller, the trailer definitely leans into that concept with its brutal scenes. Even the shot of Isabel casually wiping blood off her piano made me chuckle (in a good way). But what makes the series stand out isn't some lone, haunted antihero like John Wick. Instead, we get a grandmother and a father, both fiercely determined to seek justice… the bloody way. It's a refreshing twist to say the least. 'Two Graves' looks like it could be a gripping ride packed into just three episodes. If stories about grief turning into a violent reckoning are your kind of thrill, this crime thriller series belongs on your watchlist. You can stream 'Two Graves' on Netflix starting August 29. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Miami Herald
18 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Feds raid California home of ‘TikTok Cult' pastor in sex trafficking, fraud investigation
LOS ANGELES - A home linked to a pastor featured in the Netflix docuseries 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult' was raided Friday by federal agents in relation to an investigation into sex trafficking, money laundering and other accusations, according to authorities. Property records show the home in the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga is linked to multiple owners, including Robert Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a 2024 docuseries. He operates a talent agency that purportedly helps social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs in Los Angeles. Those featured in the docuseries call Shinn an abusive cult leader. They say he kept them away from their families by telling them that in order to be saved, they had to 'die' to their loved ones who did not follow his teachings. He reportedly told them that if they were 'godly' enough, they would also save their families from damnation. On Friday, agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor served a warrant at the home around 6 a.m., according to the El Monte Police Department, which provided assistance along with the FBI. The search was related to allegations of sex trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion and COVID-19 pandemic-era-related fraud. SWAT officers were at the scene to assist, according to the El Monte Police Department. Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza said in a prepared statement that officials will provide more details as the investigation progresses. 'U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information,' Mendoza said. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation say the federal warrant is connected with the alleged cult featured in the Netflix docuseries, but details from the investigation remain under seal in federal court. News footage from KTLA showed several handcuffed people outside the residence, but sources familiar with the investigation say there have not yet been any arrests. On Friday afternoon, the Tujunga home bustled with onlookers, curious neighbors and news vehicles. The gated entrance to the home was visibly twisted and warped, having been rammed by federal agents early that morning, according to neighbors. 'I was getting ready for work when I heard the flash-bangs go off,' said one neighbor, Jake Hartmann. 'Then a loud speaker ... 'You need to come out, hands up.' All the neighbors came out to find FBI, Sheriff's Department and police taking up the whole area.' An open gate is apparently unusual for the home. Several neighbors said that in the few years that the alleged cult lived on the property, it was constantly blocked off. The owner reportedly built higher walls and grew trees to further block views of the home. 'When they moved in, it was weird,' said neighbor Marge Wagner. 'They were very secretive, then they sent out a flyer of what they wanted to do. They said they wanted to do all these things for our community. Like letting scout troops meet at the house, doing prayer meetings at night, letting people swim in the pool. It was so bizarre.' The property is large, wrapping around a street corner and lined with a thick wall of trees. Wagner recalls the owner taking back initial offers for a community space and giving mixed messages on the purpose of the property, a move that confused several in the community. 'The owner instead said in local meetings that they would hold a men's prayer night there every Tuesday,' Wagner said. 'For him to say that it was a church and only have one event a week for men … I thought, this isn't right. Nothing seemed right.' Anthony Jackson, who lived next door for years, interacted with the residents of the property many times. Jackson described the neighborhood as quiet, with mostly older residents, and says he never saw any red flags. '[Shinn's] wife is very nice. I've never seen anything out of the ordinary, heard anything out of the ordinary,' Jackson said. 'So when I saw the charges on the news, I couldn't even believe it. I mean, I still don't believe it.' Others, like Wagner, said they found the standoffish behavior of residents at the property suspicious. 'My daughter said, 'Mom, have you heard about that ... documentary? Mom, you've gotta come over and watch this,' ' Wagner said. 'I didn't feel surprised. They ostracized themselves from people around.' A man who refused to be named exited the property as a Times reporter approached. 'This is all just a misunderstanding,' he said, shaking his head at the damaged gate. 'A misunderstanding that resulted in destroyed property.' In response to a request for an interview, the man replied, 'I don't wanna get caught up in all of this. I just live here. They'll see soon that it was all just a misunderstanding.' It was not immediately clear if Shinn had any legal representation. The docuseries follows former Shekinah Church members who worked with the 7M Films talent agency, which was founded by Shinn in 2021. The series reveals that the dancers who were represented by the talent agency started as social media collaborators who frequently posted dance videos together on TikTok, but that group found themselves attending Bible study with Shinn. Those dancers invited friends to join what eventually became the core group of the alleged cult. Shinn reportedly called himself 'the Man of God' and said his teachings would grant his followers salvation. Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Kimberly Aguirre contributed to this report. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Black America Web
20 hours ago
- Black America Web
‘Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK
Source: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / Getty Michael Ward, the British actor known for his role in Netflix 's popular series Top Boy has been charged with rape and sexual assault connected to alleged events that took place in 2023. The 27-year-old Jamaican-born performer is slated to appear before the Thames Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Aug. 28 to answer to the charges, People reports. He is currently facing two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault levied by an accuser who remains unnamed by UK police. 'Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward – we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports,' said Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the investigation for Metropolitan Police. Ward has not been arrested in connection to the crime and will appear before the court under his own free will. The young actor has been making a name for himself over the last few years appearing in projects like The Book of Clarence, The Beautiful Game and The Old Guard. He also received rave reviews for his work in The A List prior to his breakout role as Jamie on the Drake-produced Top Boy . 'I deny the charges against me entirely. I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate,' Ward said in a statement amid the charges. 'I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared. Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.' Though the allegations against Ward are serious, the deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, Catherine Baccas, has asked that the public allow the actor his right to a fair trial before rushing to judgment. 'Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023,' said Baccas in a statement. 'We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.' The post 'Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK appeared first on Bossip. SEE ALSO 'Top Boy' Actor Michael Ward Accused Of Rape And Sexual Assault In UK was originally published on
