Erik Menendez, who is serving a life sentence alongside his brother Lyle for the murder of their parents, has been hospitalised just one month before a crucial parole hearing.
The younger of the two brothers was rushed to hospital with severe kidney stones on Friday.
This development comes after the siblings, who have been incarcerated since 1996 following their initial convictions, began to hope for freedom. Over the years, calls for their release have grown louder as new questions about their motive for the murders have emerged, particularly claims of sexual abuse by their father.
These allegations led to a resentencing hearing and the upcoming parole hearing. Erik’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, initially described his client’s ailment as a “serious medical condition.”
It has since been confirmed that Erik, now 54, is suffering from kidney stones.
Despite being reported in fair condition, this health scare could potentially impact his prison sentence, the Mirror reports. California Governor Gavin Newsom is reportedly considering a “prison furlough” in the case of convicted murderers Lyle and Erik Menendez.
It remains uncertain whether this would be a temporary measure until certain health issues are resolved, or if Newsom might grant them leniency ahead of their upcoming parole hearing.
Should Newsom decide to show leniency, it could mean that they wouldn’t have to return to prison while awaiting the parole board’s decision.
Their hearing is scheduled for August 22, with Newsom reportedly open to granting clemency in their case.
Public demand for the brothers’ release has surged following the 2024 Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The series shed new light on their claims of enduring years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their parents.
Arrested in 1990 for the murders of their parents, the brothers were later charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for lying in wait, making them eligible for the death penalty.
Despite initial mistrials, a second trial resulted in life sentences without parole in 1996. They were resentenced to 50 years to life, with eligibility for parole, in May 2025.
Originally, their parole hearing was set for 13 June, but it was subsequently postponed to 21 and 22 August.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not provide an explanation for the delay at the time.