Emmerson Cattich | Opinion Editor
May 22, 2025
On May 13, Erik and Lyle Menendez were resentenced to life in prison—this time with the possibility of parole. Though they remain behind bars, the decision opens the door for their potential release after spending more than three decades in prison. It’s a sign that society may now be rethinking how harshly it judged the brothers in the 1990s.
When the Menendez brothers went on trial between 1993-1995, the public largely saw them as privileged, cold-blooded killers who murdered their wealthy parents out of greed. Their claims of sexual abuse by their father were widely dismissed as a manipulative attempt to avoid harsher punishment.
But public opinion began to shift after the release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story in September. The Netflix series sparked renewed interest in the case, especially on social media, where users began reexamining the brothers’ testimony. Many now view them not as entitled murderers, but as victims of long-term, severe abuse who acted out of desperation and fear.
This viral movement on platforms like TikTok brought the case to a younger audience and helped build momentum for legal reconsideration. SCHS junior Izzy Daniel said the TikToks she watched led her “down a rabbit hole,” ultimately convincing her that the brothers “have overstayed their time in prison and deserve to be released.” Fellow junior Dylan Nelson echoed that sentiment, saying, “I never knew the full story behind why they committed the murders until I watched the show. They did their time, and it’s time for them to be released.”
The brothers’ original sentencing came at a time marked by the “War on Drugs” and an explosion of punitive criminal justice policies. Their case reflected an era more focused on retribution than rehabilitation. This resentencing is part of a broader reckoning with those past injustices.
After 35 years behind bars—during which both brothers have reportedly maintained good behavior—it may finally be time to consider their return to a more understanding and informed society.
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