Lyle and Erik Menendez: Life in Prison and Their Possible Release
Erik and Lyle Menendez, 1989. Photo courtesy of Orsf under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Menendez brothers are making headlines again, more than three decades after they were sentenced to life in prison for the brutal 1989 murders of their wealthy parents. Now, with a court hearing set for March 20 to determine whether they should be resentenced, questions about their future remain. But what has life been like for Erik and Lyle Menendez behind bars? And why were they separated for so many years?
Separated and Struggling Behind Bars
Erik and Lyle Menendez, now 54 and 57, have spent the last 35 years in prison, but for more than two decades, they weren't even in the same facility. Lyle was housed in Mule Creek State Prison in Northern California, and Erik was in multiple facilities before landing at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego in 2013. It wasn't until 2018 that they were reunited in the same housing unit.
The time apart was difficult. In a recent interview on TMZ's 2 Angry Men podcast, Erik described the trauma he endured early in his sentence. "Prison was hard for me. I faced a lot of bullying and trauma," he said, according to PEOPLE. Without the protection of a gang, he was a target. "I was picked on, bullied violently, and it was traumatic and continual."
Lyle also suffered. Erik recalled the moment he heard that his brother had been assaulted and had his jaw broken. "I'm thinking 'He's over there, I'm going through this over here, and at least we could protect each other maybe if we were together,' but we were not even allowed to be together. So it was difficult," Erik said on the podcast.
Despite these struggles, both brothers eventually adjusted. They were transferred to Echo Yard, a "non-designated programming facility" at Donovan that allows inmates to participate in rehabilitation programs like yoga, art, and meditation.
Daily Life in Prison
Prison has changed over the years, and so have the Menendez brothers. They've taken on leadership roles within their facility, mentoring younger inmates and leading classes. Erik teaches meditation and speech, while Lyle has focused on educational programming.
In an interview with PEOPLE in 2005, Erik gave an example of his daily schedule: "I get up at 6 a.m. At 6:20 I have breakfast. I meditate at 6:50. Starting at 7:30 I read and write in my journal. We'll either have a morning yard time starting at 9:30 or an afternoon yard time starting at 2:00 p.m. At two o'clock I start my job. I will try and call (wife) Tammi (Menendez) in the afternoon. I'll then work until 8 p.m. At 9 p.m. we're locked down. I generally go to sleep around 10:30 p.m.," US Magazine reported.
Erik Menendez has been married to his wife, Tammi, since 1999 after they connected through letters. Lyle Menendez first wed Anna Eriksson in 1996, but they divorced five years later. In 2003, he married Rebecca Sneed.
Technology has also changed how they stay connected. California now provides inmates with tablets, allowing them to read news and exchange emails and video calls with loved ones. They are not allowed to access social media or internet browsers though.
Why Are They Back in the News?
In 2024, Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," reignited interest in their case, leading to renewed public support for their release. The show's impact, along with advocacy from figures like Kim Kardashian, prompted former L.A. District Attorney George Gascón to push for their resentencing. If successful, the brothers could be eligible for parole under California's "youthful offender" law, as they were 18 and 21 at the time of the murders.
What's Next for the Menendez Brothers?
Their future now rests in the hands of the court. If resentenced, they could walk free after more than three decades in prison. If denied, they will remain behind bars for the rest of their lives. Either way, the Menendez brothers are once again at the center of a case that refuses to be forgotten.
References: Erik Menendez Claims He and Lyle Have Been 'Bullied Violently' and 'Assaulted' in Prison: 'It Was Traumatic' | Erik and Lyle Menendez Brutalized Behind Bars | Menendez Brothers INTERVIEW | Breaking Down Erik and Lyle Menendez's Lives in Prison: Restrictions, Extracurriculars and More
