August 22, 2025 • 15 mins
Just because his brother was denied parole yesterday, doesn't mean Lyle Menendez is going to meet the same fate. His parole hearing is underway as of this recording, and yesterday’s hearing gave clues about why Lyle has a better chance of parole than his brother did.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, they're folks. It as Friday, August twenty second. It's
not a done deal yet. Just because Eric Menindez was
denied parole yesterday doesn't mean necessarily that his brother automatically
is going to meet the same fate today at his
parole hearing. With that, welcome everybody to this episode of
(00:23):
Amy and TJ. Yes, what a day, what a night
it was. We were ob late last night waiting on
word about Eric Menindez, but we did get word. After
all this time he was going to be denied. Now
the brothers, the Menindez brothers, back to back days, they're
essentially running it back today, same time, same place, same crime,
But it doesn't mean they're going to get the same result.
(00:47):
Eric and Lyle Mendez, you know their story by now,
kill their parents in a horrific shooting. Back in nineteen
eighty nine. They were convicted of the crime, sentenced through
life in prison without the possibility of parole. But momentum
with the past couple of years, new information that came out,
and look documentaries came out, hit shows came out on Netflix.
There was a new public interest and a push in
(01:09):
understanding the trauma. Maybe that these boys say, they went
through at the hands of their father with abuse. So
things changed and momentum changed and sentiment changed to where
they ended up getting their sentences changed. They were re
sentenced to fifty years to life, which then made them
immediately eligible for parole. And that is why we are
(01:30):
where we are today. So Eric Menandez had his parole
hearing yesterday, the first in thirty years that they've been
in prison that either one of them have ever had
such a thing that went ten hours. Look, they were
talking yesterday, this thing was gonna go three It ended
up going ten hours, and ultimately he was denied parole,
which shocked at least a lot of the experts will
(01:51):
tell you out there that we're talking ahead of time
that yes, they thought he had a good chance. Yes,
they thought the public sentiment was on his side. Yes,
they believed there was a good sh chants that he
was going to hear those words you have been granted parole.
He heard something much different, And as the parole board
and the commissioners explained, their logic is much different from
(02:13):
the logic of the public. Let me explain now, Lamelndez
say they're going to run it back. They really are
doing pretty much the same routine as yesterday. It's going
to start as of this recordings supposed to star. It's
been going on about what an hour, so eleven thirty
Eastern time, eight thirty local out there in California. They're
both being housed at the San Diego prison. They're doing
(02:36):
the video conference from prison. Again. They're not going physically
to a courtroom for this, and it's all being done
on video conference. There are no cameras in the courtroom,
there's no audio in the courtroom. Only one poll reporter
is allowed in there, and they can't disseminate the information
as the hearing is going on. So that's yesterday. We
were all waiting around here for ten hours for any
sliver of information about what had happened in the parole
(02:57):
board hearing. We are having to do that same process today.
We're not going to be able to hear any information
until the end and until a decision is made and
all the back and forth and all the questioning and
all the family statements, and the district attorney has an
opportunity to speak as well, which they have clearly said
(03:17):
they want the boys. I say the boys, and again
you'll understand why I say that they were young men
at the time of the desk, but they're grown men
certainly now. So he has been Now Eric at least
learned his fate. He can come back in three years
try for parole again. Here is the fascinating part. Now
we're getting more about why the board denied Eric parole
(03:42):
and gives us some insight into what Lyle is going
to be up against. So Eric and so much that
you have heard how many times have you heard that
the boys that the boys, sorry, these grown men have
been model inmates, have been model prisoners, and therefore they
have come. They have admitted to what they've done. They've
(04:02):
shown remorse, they have been good prisons. They've started all
these programs. They both have done college courses. One of
them has a college degree and a master's, all these
support groups that they've started. So doing all of these
things in prison, that's fine. But still we're getting word
from the commissioners that here is the issue, not the crime.
(04:25):
It was actually what they've been doing in prison that's
the problem. So they concluded that he quote poses an
unreasonable risk to public safety because of serious violations of
prison rules. They may clear we are not actually keeping
you in prison because you viciously murdered your parents by
(04:49):
shooting them more than ten times. Reloading, All right, that's
actually not why we're keeping you in prison. It's his
behavior in prison that is keeping him in prison, according
to the commissioners, one of them saying, and I quote,
one can pose a risk to public safety in many
ways with several types of criminal behavior, including the ones
(05:13):
you were guilty of in prison. Now, what were those
crimes criminal behavior in prison? Well, they've laid out at
least eight or nine rules violations he's had over the
past thirty years that he's been in prison. A couple
of those violations included instances of violence fights that he
got into in prison. This is Eric Menendez we're talking about.
(05:36):
He also had cell phones. You're not supposed to have
illicit cell phones. To have illicit cell phone use in prison,
he has done it on more than one occasion. District
attorney says, actually one of those times was as recent
as January when he had That was a time when
a lot of legal back and forth was going on,
and he had a cell phone in prison at that time.
(05:57):
Who would do that? They argue, knowing that you need
to be on your best behavior because you might have
a parole hearing and you're trying to get out of prison.
And still he was breaking the rules. Also, he was
caught with drugs, they said, on a couple of occasions
that came out. Also an issue where he allegedly helped
a gang in a tax scheme. Now, Eric was able
(06:18):
to explain that, at least yesterday, that he only did
it because he was threatened by a prison gang if
he didn't help. Still, Commissions didn't seem to be buying that.
And also at one point he was found with supplies
to make prison wine. Of all things. Now, with the
commissioner considering all of this, said, and here's a very
these may be two of the most meaningful quotes that
(06:42):
we heard yesterday from the commissioner saying, one, I do
believe in redemption, or I wouldn't do this job. But
based on the legal standard, we find you continue to
pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Goes on to
say this, contrary to your support beliefs, you have not
been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a
(07:05):
little disturbing. He went on. And they continue to talk about,
yes the staff submitted things saying that he was a
model inmate. These folks, the commissioners, look at this totally differently.
Yes there is public sentiment, Yes there is a different
understanding of abuse and trauma at this point. Yes, they
(07:25):
have admitted to what they've done. Yes, they have done
these programs, they've done all of these things. And the
staff said, yes they are model inmates. From the view
of these parole board, this parle board, they are not.
They're not anywhere close. They are guys who have actually
committed at least Eric, who has committed crimes, pretty serious
(07:47):
ones while he has been in prison. At one point,
the one thing about the crime they seem to be
really hung up on and really disturbed by was the mom.
Why did you have to shoot my dad? Was the one?
Right that was abusive? Dad was the one that you feared.
Dad was the one. So why did you have to
(08:08):
viciously kill your mom? Shoot her? Repeatedly? And this is
where some reloading took place. They were hung up on it,
and they were asked directly, she didn't have to die,
why did you shoot her? And Eric's only response is
that he just wished he had not done it. They
didn't believe at all, or it came up again, this
(08:29):
idea of the they were under imminent threat, that they
feared for their lives. But they were twenty one and
eighteen who were clearly capable of walking out the house,
picking up a phone, going to a police station. Yes,
some people will say these folks were these young men
were traumatized and abused by their dad, and you can't
(08:49):
really hold that against them. Well, the proboard is telling
them they had other options and other decisions to make
besides shooting your parents a dozen times. But still they
made clear this was about his behavior in prison. And
so that's what now brings us to Lyle. And Lyle,
(09:13):
if the parole board is going to be viewing more
so and judging more so based on what Lyle did
in prison, then he might actually have a better shot
at getting out than his brother. We continue here now
(09:39):
with as we speak, another parole board hearing is underway,
this time for Lyle Menendez, the brother of Eric. Eric
yesterday and his parole hearing was denied parole. He'll have
to stay in prison, certainly at least another three years
before he's eligible to be to go before the parole board. Again,
his brother Lyle is up today, same crime, same circumstances,
(10:03):
So why would we expect he could possibly have any
different outcome? For this reason, One, he is speaking to
a different set of parole commissioners, So the people who
were there and judging the case of Eric Menindez are
not going to be the same ones in there judging
the case of Lyele Menndez. That could work to his favor,
(10:26):
but it could also work against him. But the point
there being, it's going to be a different set of eyes,
So it's not an automatic that these are the same
folks or they are going to be thinking the same
way that they thought about Eric. The other thing is Lyle,
while maybe he has not been a model prisoner, he's
been closer to it than his brother Eric has. Now. Lyle,
(10:49):
it appears, only has about five violations in prison rules
violations over the thirty years, opposed to his brother's nine.
I believe the prosecution has been saying but a or
nine that his brother has. Yes, he has about half.
He has far fewer, but one of the biggest deals
he does not have any violence on his record. He
(11:12):
has been in thirty years of prison. He has been
there for thirty years incarcerated, and according to an assessment,
he has not been a single fight in thirty years
that he has been incarcerated. In fact, he had to
be moved earlier in his when he first got into prison.
(11:32):
He had to be moved because he was attacked and
wouldn't fight back. Even so, he was essentially beat up,
so they moved him through a special general population area
because this was a guy who would not fight back.
Now is that a big enough of a deal. Maybe
this panel today is going to not put as much
emphasis on what kind of prisoner or hey he has been,
(11:52):
but maybe they put more emphasis on what kind of
criminal he was in shooting and killing his parents, And
maybe they are going to focus more so on the
actual crime than what he's been doing in prison. We
just don't know. We know the family that spoke yesterday.
I think they said eighteen was the count. Family supporters
spoke before the board and spoke up for Eric to
(12:15):
get out of prison, and they have been supportive over
the past couple of years. Heard an attorney speaking on television,
can't remember who it was and where it was, but
made the point that he has never seen in all
his years as a prosecutor showing up to a parole hearing,
and the victims' families are all pushing for the release
(12:40):
of the person who killed their family member. Yes, all
these people in the Eric in Lyle are related to
these folks, but the family could very well say the
hell with them, let them rot in jail because they
killed our family members. But no, at least eighteen showed
up and spoke spoke out about him getting out of prison.
(13:01):
They did put out a statement. They expressed their disappointment
in what happened with Eric Menendez yesterday, but said this,
we turn our attention to Lyle's hearing, and while it
is undoubtedly difficult, we remain cautiously optimistic and hopeful that
the commissioner will see in Lyle what so many others have,
a man who has taken responsibility, transformed his life, and
is ready to come home again. Five violations. We shall
(13:25):
see how much that plays into it. Look, I don't know,
and I wouldn't believe anybody who told me how long
this hearing is going to go today, because nobody was
anticipating ten hours yesterday. And we are once again folks
at the Mercy. I spoke on this before. This wasn't
like the Diddy trial we covered, where there were several
reporters in the room and they get in real time
(13:48):
give us updates about testimony about things that were happening.
This is not the case. This is not a public hearing.
This is not a court hearing. I should say. There's
no judge sitting in there. But this is supposed to
be a private This is supposed to be confidential at least,
but they do allow at least one person in there,
a reporter, but they can't give us live updates. So, folks,
(14:08):
we are standing by once again at this point. A
lot of people expect, of course he's going to stay
in prison as well, but they could absolutely shock us,
surprise us once again at least, and if they do,
it could ride on just how much better of a
prisoner they think he has been the past thirty years
(14:31):
than his brother has been. With that, folks, we are
going to keep an eye on it. We will hop
on and we will update you as soon as we
get it. Robock will be back. I think you'll hear
her voice in the next recording. She's on a plane
landing very soon. But this case is of I mean
incredible public interest over the past thirty five years now,
(14:53):
and it just so happened. We mentioned this week August
twentieth was the thirty sixth year anniversary of that killing,
and all that just so happened, And this is happening
on the very week of that anniversary. So folks say
with us, keep an eye out and a reminder on
your phone. The Apple podcast app top right, corn says
(15:13):
follow Just click that and you'll get our updates automatically.
Don't have to go you look searching for all right, folks, TJ.
Holmes here see yes in
Hey, they're folks. It as Friday, August twenty second. It's
not a done deal yet. Just because Eric Menindez was
denied parole yesterday doesn't mean necessarily that his brother automatically
is going to meet the same fate today at his
parole hearing. With that, welcome everybody to this episode of
(00:23):
Amy and TJ. Yes, what a day, what a night
it was. We were ob late last night waiting on
word about Eric Menindez, but we did get word. After
all this time he was going to be denied. Now
the brothers, the Menindez brothers, back to back days, they're
essentially running it back today, same time, same place, same crime,
But it doesn't mean they're going to get the same result.
(00:47):
Eric and Lyle Mendez, you know their story by now,
kill their parents in a horrific shooting. Back in nineteen
eighty nine. They were convicted of the crime, sentenced through
life in prison without the possibility of parole. But momentum
with the past couple of years, new information that came out,
and look documentaries came out, hit shows came out on Netflix.
There was a new public interest and a push in
(01:09):
understanding the trauma. Maybe that these boys say, they went
through at the hands of their father with abuse. So
things changed and momentum changed and sentiment changed to where
they ended up getting their sentences changed. They were re
sentenced to fifty years to life, which then made them
immediately eligible for parole. And that is why we are
(01:30):
where we are today. So Eric Menandez had his parole
hearing yesterday, the first in thirty years that they've been
in prison that either one of them have ever had
such a thing that went ten hours. Look, they were
talking yesterday, this thing was gonna go three It ended
up going ten hours, and ultimately he was denied parole,
which shocked at least a lot of the experts will
(01:51):
tell you out there that we're talking ahead of time
that yes, they thought he had a good chance. Yes,
they thought the public sentiment was on his side. Yes,
they believed there was a good sh chants that he
was going to hear those words you have been granted parole.
He heard something much different, And as the parole board
and the commissioners explained, their logic is much different from
(02:13):
the logic of the public. Let me explain now, Lamelndez
say they're going to run it back. They really are
doing pretty much the same routine as yesterday. It's going
to start as of this recordings supposed to star. It's
been going on about what an hour, so eleven thirty
Eastern time, eight thirty local out there in California. They're
both being housed at the San Diego prison. They're doing
(02:36):
the video conference from prison. Again. They're not going physically
to a courtroom for this, and it's all being done
on video conference. There are no cameras in the courtroom,
there's no audio in the courtroom. Only one poll reporter
is allowed in there, and they can't disseminate the information
as the hearing is going on. So that's yesterday. We
were all waiting around here for ten hours for any
sliver of information about what had happened in the parole
(02:57):
board hearing. We are having to do that same process today.
We're not going to be able to hear any information
until the end and until a decision is made and
all the back and forth and all the questioning and
all the family statements, and the district attorney has an
opportunity to speak as well, which they have clearly said
(03:17):
they want the boys. I say the boys, and again
you'll understand why I say that they were young men
at the time of the desk, but they're grown men
certainly now. So he has been Now Eric at least
learned his fate. He can come back in three years
try for parole again. Here is the fascinating part. Now
we're getting more about why the board denied Eric parole
(03:42):
and gives us some insight into what Lyle is going
to be up against. So Eric and so much that
you have heard how many times have you heard that
the boys that the boys, sorry, these grown men have
been model inmates, have been model prisoners, and therefore they
have come. They have admitted to what they've done. They've
(04:02):
shown remorse, they have been good prisons. They've started all
these programs. They both have done college courses. One of
them has a college degree and a master's, all these
support groups that they've started. So doing all of these
things in prison, that's fine. But still we're getting word
from the commissioners that here is the issue, not the crime.
(04:25):
It was actually what they've been doing in prison that's
the problem. So they concluded that he quote poses an
unreasonable risk to public safety because of serious violations of
prison rules. They may clear we are not actually keeping
you in prison because you viciously murdered your parents by
(04:49):
shooting them more than ten times. Reloading, All right, that's
actually not why we're keeping you in prison. It's his
behavior in prison that is keeping him in prison, according
to the commissioners, one of them saying, and I quote,
one can pose a risk to public safety in many
ways with several types of criminal behavior, including the ones
(05:13):
you were guilty of in prison. Now, what were those
crimes criminal behavior in prison? Well, they've laid out at
least eight or nine rules violations he's had over the
past thirty years that he's been in prison. A couple
of those violations included instances of violence fights that he
got into in prison. This is Eric Menendez we're talking about.
(05:36):
He also had cell phones. You're not supposed to have
illicit cell phones. To have illicit cell phone use in prison,
he has done it on more than one occasion. District
attorney says, actually one of those times was as recent
as January when he had That was a time when
a lot of legal back and forth was going on,
and he had a cell phone in prison at that time.
(05:57):
Who would do that? They argue, knowing that you need
to be on your best behavior because you might have
a parole hearing and you're trying to get out of prison.
And still he was breaking the rules. Also, he was
caught with drugs, they said, on a couple of occasions
that came out. Also an issue where he allegedly helped
a gang in a tax scheme. Now, Eric was able
(06:18):
to explain that, at least yesterday, that he only did
it because he was threatened by a prison gang if
he didn't help. Still, Commissions didn't seem to be buying that.
And also at one point he was found with supplies
to make prison wine. Of all things. Now, with the
commissioner considering all of this, said, and here's a very
these may be two of the most meaningful quotes that
(06:42):
we heard yesterday from the commissioner saying, one, I do
believe in redemption, or I wouldn't do this job. But
based on the legal standard, we find you continue to
pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Goes on to
say this, contrary to your support beliefs, you have not
been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a
(07:05):
little disturbing. He went on. And they continue to talk about,
yes the staff submitted things saying that he was a
model inmate. These folks, the commissioners, look at this totally differently.
Yes there is public sentiment, Yes there is a different
understanding of abuse and trauma at this point. Yes, they
(07:25):
have admitted to what they've done. Yes, they have done
these programs, they've done all of these things. And the
staff said, yes they are model inmates. From the view
of these parole board, this parle board, they are not.
They're not anywhere close. They are guys who have actually
committed at least Eric, who has committed crimes, pretty serious
(07:47):
ones while he has been in prison. At one point,
the one thing about the crime they seem to be
really hung up on and really disturbed by was the mom.
Why did you have to shoot my dad? Was the one?
Right that was abusive? Dad was the one that you feared.
Dad was the one. So why did you have to
(08:08):
viciously kill your mom? Shoot her? Repeatedly? And this is
where some reloading took place. They were hung up on it,
and they were asked directly, she didn't have to die,
why did you shoot her? And Eric's only response is
that he just wished he had not done it. They
didn't believe at all, or it came up again, this
(08:29):
idea of the they were under imminent threat, that they
feared for their lives. But they were twenty one and
eighteen who were clearly capable of walking out the house,
picking up a phone, going to a police station. Yes,
some people will say these folks were these young men
were traumatized and abused by their dad, and you can't
(08:49):
really hold that against them. Well, the proboard is telling
them they had other options and other decisions to make
besides shooting your parents a dozen times. But still they
made clear this was about his behavior in prison. And
so that's what now brings us to Lyle. And Lyle,
(09:13):
if the parole board is going to be viewing more
so and judging more so based on what Lyle did
in prison, then he might actually have a better shot
at getting out than his brother. We continue here now
(09:39):
with as we speak, another parole board hearing is underway,
this time for Lyle Menendez, the brother of Eric. Eric
yesterday and his parole hearing was denied parole. He'll have
to stay in prison, certainly at least another three years
before he's eligible to be to go before the parole board. Again,
his brother Lyle is up today, same crime, same circumstances,
(10:03):
So why would we expect he could possibly have any
different outcome? For this reason, One, he is speaking to
a different set of parole commissioners, So the people who
were there and judging the case of Eric Menindez are
not going to be the same ones in there judging
the case of Lyele Menndez. That could work to his favor,
(10:26):
but it could also work against him. But the point
there being, it's going to be a different set of eyes,
So it's not an automatic that these are the same
folks or they are going to be thinking the same
way that they thought about Eric. The other thing is Lyle,
while maybe he has not been a model prisoner, he's
been closer to it than his brother Eric has. Now. Lyle,
(10:49):
it appears, only has about five violations in prison rules
violations over the thirty years, opposed to his brother's nine.
I believe the prosecution has been saying but a or
nine that his brother has. Yes, he has about half.
He has far fewer, but one of the biggest deals
he does not have any violence on his record. He
(11:12):
has been in thirty years of prison. He has been
there for thirty years incarcerated, and according to an assessment,
he has not been a single fight in thirty years
that he has been incarcerated. In fact, he had to
be moved earlier in his when he first got into prison.
(11:32):
He had to be moved because he was attacked and
wouldn't fight back. Even so, he was essentially beat up,
so they moved him through a special general population area
because this was a guy who would not fight back.
Now is that a big enough of a deal. Maybe
this panel today is going to not put as much
emphasis on what kind of prisoner or hey he has been,
(11:52):
but maybe they put more emphasis on what kind of
criminal he was in shooting and killing his parents, And
maybe they are going to focus more so on the
actual crime than what he's been doing in prison. We
just don't know. We know the family that spoke yesterday.
I think they said eighteen was the count. Family supporters
spoke before the board and spoke up for Eric to
(12:15):
get out of prison, and they have been supportive over
the past couple of years. Heard an attorney speaking on television,
can't remember who it was and where it was, but
made the point that he has never seen in all
his years as a prosecutor showing up to a parole hearing,
and the victims' families are all pushing for the release
(12:40):
of the person who killed their family member. Yes, all
these people in the Eric in Lyle are related to
these folks, but the family could very well say the
hell with them, let them rot in jail because they
killed our family members. But no, at least eighteen showed
up and spoke spoke out about him getting out of prison.
(13:01):
They did put out a statement. They expressed their disappointment
in what happened with Eric Menendez yesterday, but said this,
we turn our attention to Lyle's hearing, and while it
is undoubtedly difficult, we remain cautiously optimistic and hopeful that
the commissioner will see in Lyle what so many others have,
a man who has taken responsibility, transformed his life, and
is ready to come home again. Five violations. We shall
(13:25):
see how much that plays into it. Look, I don't know,
and I wouldn't believe anybody who told me how long
this hearing is going to go today, because nobody was
anticipating ten hours yesterday. And we are once again folks
at the Mercy. I spoke on this before. This wasn't
like the Diddy trial we covered, where there were several
reporters in the room and they get in real time
(13:48):
give us updates about testimony about things that were happening.
This is not the case. This is not a public hearing.
This is not a court hearing. I should say. There's
no judge sitting in there. But this is supposed to
be a private This is supposed to be confidential at least,
but they do allow at least one person in there,
a reporter, but they can't give us live updates. So, folks,
(14:08):
we are standing by once again at this point. A
lot of people expect, of course he's going to stay
in prison as well, but they could absolutely shock us,
surprise us once again at least, and if they do,
it could ride on just how much better of a
prisoner they think he has been the past thirty years
(14:31):
than his brother has been. With that, folks, we are
going to keep an eye on it. We will hop
on and we will update you as soon as we
get it. Robock will be back. I think you'll hear
her voice in the next recording. She's on a plane
landing very soon. But this case is of I mean
incredible public interest over the past thirty five years now,
(14:53):
and it just so happened. We mentioned this week August
twentieth was the thirty sixth year anniversary of that killing,
and all that just so happened, And this is happening
on the very week of that anniversary. So folks say
with us, keep an eye out and a reminder on
your phone. The Apple podcast app top right, corn says
(15:13):
follow Just click that and you'll get our updates automatically.
Don't have to go you look searching for all right, folks, TJ.
Holmes here see yes in
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My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.