Eric Menendez was denied parole: the reason — violations in prison
22 august 2025 в 19:13
Eric Menendez was denied parole three months after a successful resentencing hearing for him and his brother Lyle Menendez. The court recognized that Eric, 54, poses a moderate risk to society if released from Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. Meanwhile, supporters of the brothers, who have been imprisoned since 1996 for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, were shocked by the results of Eric’s hearing on Thursday, August 21. After all, he had obtained a higher education and participated in volunteer programs while serving his initial life sentence. So why was he denied parole?
Below is all the information we know about Eric’s unsuccessful parole hearing and the court’s decision.
Eric was denied parole because the parole board considers him a moderate risk to society outside of prison, citing his infractions while incarcerated.
According to parole board member Robert Barton, Eric had several infractions in prison that influenced the board’s decision to deny him.
«Contrary to the beliefs of your supporters, you have not been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a little concerning», - Barton told Eric during the 10-hour hearing, where Eric appeared via video call.
Some of Eric’s infractions in prison included being involved in at least three fights or altercations behind bars, as pointed out by Barton. One of them occurred in November 1997 with a person identified as «Mr. Brown» after Eric was transferred to RJD.
«I was guilty of mutual combat. I was defending myself», - Eric admitted during the hearing, according to multiple sources.
Barton later questioned Eric about tax fraud he committed in 2013, to which Eric responded that he was forced to plan it due to an imminent threat from a prison gang.
«I was in huge fear», - Eric said, claiming that one of his friends in prison was stabbed and raped by that gang. «It was a great opportunity to join them and survive».
In February 2018, Eric invited a person into his cell to smoke marijuana, Barton said. It was also revealed that he had supplies in his cell to make wine, to which Eric confessed that he felt «miserable» in prison.
Barton then pointed out Eric’s violation of using a cell phone, saying, «The phone, again, in the abstract, it’s easy for people on the outside to look at it and ask, 'What's the big deal?' [But] that doesn’t change the fact that you knew what you were doing and knew why you were doing it».
Finally, Eric was seen with his wife Tammi Menendez engaging in «excessive physical contact» in the prison chapel while her then 9-year-old daughter Talia was in the room. Eric defended himself, saying, «I sometimes crossed the line in the visiting room with my wife because I was attracted to her, and we had sexual feelings for each other, and we didn’t have a real opportunity to express that». However, Eric claimed that he and Tammi did not engage in sexual activity and said they were just «hugging» while Talia read a book in the room.
Barton concluded that Eric’s «institutionally inappropriate behavior showed a lack of self-awareness».
Eric does not have a biological child, but he is a stepfather to his wife Tammi’s daughter, Talia, whom she had from a previous marriage. Talia is already an adult.
Lyle’s fate will be decided on August 22, 2025, the day after his younger brother was denied parole
Below is all the information we know about Eric’s unsuccessful parole hearing and the court’s decision.
Eric was denied parole because the parole board considers him a moderate risk to society outside of prison, citing his infractions while incarcerated.
According to parole board member Robert Barton, Eric had several infractions in prison that influenced the board’s decision to deny him.
«Contrary to the beliefs of your supporters, you have not been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a little concerning», - Barton told Eric during the 10-hour hearing, where Eric appeared via video call.
Some of Eric’s infractions in prison included being involved in at least three fights or altercations behind bars, as pointed out by Barton. One of them occurred in November 1997 with a person identified as «Mr. Brown» after Eric was transferred to RJD.
«I was guilty of mutual combat. I was defending myself», - Eric admitted during the hearing, according to multiple sources.
Barton later questioned Eric about tax fraud he committed in 2013, to which Eric responded that he was forced to plan it due to an imminent threat from a prison gang.
«I was in huge fear», - Eric said, claiming that one of his friends in prison was stabbed and raped by that gang. «It was a great opportunity to join them and survive».
In February 2018, Eric invited a person into his cell to smoke marijuana, Barton said. It was also revealed that he had supplies in his cell to make wine, to which Eric confessed that he felt «miserable» in prison.
Barton then pointed out Eric’s violation of using a cell phone, saying, «The phone, again, in the abstract, it’s easy for people on the outside to look at it and ask, 'What's the big deal?' [But] that doesn’t change the fact that you knew what you were doing and knew why you were doing it».
Finally, Eric was seen with his wife Tammi Menendez engaging in «excessive physical contact» in the prison chapel while her then 9-year-old daughter Talia was in the room. Eric defended himself, saying, «I sometimes crossed the line in the visiting room with my wife because I was attracted to her, and we had sexual feelings for each other, and we didn’t have a real opportunity to express that». However, Eric claimed that he and Tammi did not engage in sexual activity and said they were just «hugging» while Talia read a book in the room.
Barton concluded that Eric’s «institutionally inappropriate behavior showed a lack of self-awareness».
Eric does not have a biological child, but he is a stepfather to his wife Tammi’s daughter, Talia, whom she had from a previous marriage. Talia is already an adult.
Lyle’s fate will be decided on August 22, 2025, the day after his younger brother was denied parole
© Smirnova Olga
