Wed Oct 16 18:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Menendez Brothers Seek Release After 30 Years: DA Weighs New Evidence, Family Rallies Support

**Los Angeles, CA** – The case of the Menendez brothers, convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents, is back in the spotlight as Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón weighs new evidence that could lead to their release after over three decades behind bars.

Lyle and Erik Menendez have always maintained they acted in self-defense against years of physical and sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez. Their defense team argues crucial evidence of abuse was withheld from the jury during the 1996 trial.

A petition filed in 2023 by the brothers’ attorneys, including a letter written by Erik Menendez to a cousin detailing alleged abuse, prompted Gascón to review the case. While he acknowledges the brothers’ guilt in the murders, Gascón is reviewing the new evidence and could potentially grant them a re-sentencing.

Ahead of a potential decision this month, nearly two dozen relatives of the Menendez brothers are scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday, advocating for their release. Among them is their cousin, Karen Vander MolenCopley, who remembers seeing the brothers’ personalities shift from happy children to saddened youths as they endured abuse. She believes their release would be a long-awaited gift for their family.

The renewed interest in the case coincides with the release of the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and a documentary featuring the brothers discussing their motivations. These productions, coupled with societal changes in understanding sexual abuse against boys, have sparked public pressure on Gascón to reexamine the case.

Former Los Angeles County prosecutor Loni Coombs believes Gascón’s decision to review the case is “a perfect storm” of new evidence, public awareness, and his existing policy of re-sentencing individuals.

The DA’s office is expected to make a decision on the Menendez brothers’ sentence within the next few weeks.

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