At a press conference held on Thursday, March 20, relatives of Erik and Lyle Menendez criticized Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, accusing him of having a personal bias against the brothers’ request for release. Lyle and Erik’s cousin, Tamara Goodell, expressed frustration, stating, “Hochman appears unwilling to listen or engage with us. At every instance, we have felt overlooked, disregarded, and treated as insignificant by D.A. Hochman. Why is he allowing personal feelings to influence this case? A district attorney is expected to be impartial, fair, and guided by the law, yet Hochman’s actions suggest otherwise.”
This press conference took place following Hochman’s recent decision not to recommend a resentencing for the Menendez brothers, who are currently serving life sentences for the murder of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in 1989. Lyle and Erik have maintained that they committed the crime out of fear for their lives, revealing allegations of long-term sexual abuse by Jose. Hochman, during a press conference on March 10, criticized the brothers for not fully accepting responsibility for their actions and accused them of deception over the past three decades.
Hochman challenged the authenticity of the brothers’ self-defense claim, asserting, “They have not demonstrated a complete understanding or accountability for their actions.” He proposed a way forward for their potential resentencing, stipulating that they must confess to what he claimed were 16 falsehoods they have perpetuated since the murders of Jose and Kitty.
Goodell argued that Hochman is revisiting a decades-old case with an outdated perspective that overlooks the abuse and trauma suffered by Erik and Lyle. She refuted Hochman’s assertion that the brothers pose a continued threat to society, stating, “A brief interaction with Erik and Lyle would reveal the fallacy of such claims.” Goodell emphasized the positive impact the brothers have made while incarcerated, contrasting it with Hochman’s singular focus on their past statements made as frightened adolescents.
Earlier this year, Hochman dealt a blow to the brothers’ prospects for release by opposing a habeas corpus petition they filed in 2023, which highlighted allegations of sexual abuse by Menudo band member Roy Rosselló against Jose. The petition also referenced a letter purportedly penned by Erik detailing his father’s alleged abuse before the murders. A resentencing hearing is scheduled for April 11, with a parole board appearance set for June 13 following Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive for a comprehensive risk assessment.
To determine if the brothers pose a risk to the public upon release, consider whether you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse. Text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor. For support related to sexual assault, reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org. For more details, refer to the original article on People.
