Could new developments set the Menendez brother free?

More than 30 years after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents inside their posh Beverly Hills mansion, new evidence has emerged that may set them free.

The case, which gripped the nation, centered on the 1989 slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez and was broadcast gavel-to-gavel on Court TV.

The brothers, who are currently serving life in prison without parole, have long maintained their actions were driven by years of sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued they were motivated by greed.

Robert Rand, a journalist who covered the Menendez trials – the first ended in a deadlocked jury – and produced a docu-series on the case, recently uncovered evidence that he believes could lead to the brothers’ release.

“I found a letter that Erik Menendez had written to his cousin Andy Cano in November of 1988, nine months before Jose and Kitty Menendez were killed,” Rand recently told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade, “And in that letter, Eric Menendez complains about the ongoing sexual abuse by his father.”

Mark Geragos, the attorney representing the brothers, described the letter as “compelling.”

“It was written before the homicides took place and laid out all of the abuse that was going on,” Geragaos told KTLA. “It wasn’t like these were destitute kids who needed to kill their parents in order to live larger than life. They were living in the lap of luxury at the time, but obviously, there was something dysfunctional going on.”

Geragos says the letter is a significant development — but not the only one that should exonerate the brothers of first-degree murder.

In Rand’s docu-series, “ Menendez Plus Menudo, ” former Menuda band member Roy Rosello claimed that Jose Menendez had also molested him. At the time, Jose was an executive at RCA Records, which had signed Menudo to a record deal.

“That, I think, was the game changer … the fact that there was yet another person who was molested by Jose,” Geragos said.

Geragos has filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking the brothers’ freedom. 24 relatives are also advocating for their release.

In May, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office told KTLA that it had received the petition but had not responded as of mid-September 2024.

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