Erik Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, has been hospitalized with a serious medical condition, his attorney confirmed. The exact nature of the illness has not been disclosed, but his legal representative described the situation as critical.

Mark Geragos, Erik’s attorney, appeared on TMZ calling for his client's immediate release on medical grounds.


"It's a serious condition," Geragos said. "I believe he should be granted a parole furlough so that he can work with his parole attorney, prepare properly, and give it his best shot. It's the only fair and equitable thing to do."

Now 54, Erik and his brother Lyle were resentenced in May to 50 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole, making them eligible to apply for the first time in more than three decades. The parole hearing is scheduled for August 21, marking a key moment in the brothers' prolonged legal battle after 35 years behind bars.

Originally, Erik and Lyle Menendez were sentenced to life without parole for fatally shooting their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home.


The case shocked the nation and became a media sensation in the 1990s. The brothers later claimed they acted in self-defense after suffering years of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of their father an argument that has gained traction among supporters and advocates for abuse survivors. Despite strong opposition from Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman who has dismissed the abuse claims as “a litany of lies” the Menendez brothers’ efforts to obtain parole have gained support, including backing from more than 20 family members.

The Menendez case first made headlines on August 20, 1989, when entertainment executive José Menendez and his wife, Kitty, were brutally gunned down with shotguns in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons, Lyle and Erik, called 911 claiming their parents had been killed by intruders.

However, suspicion quickly shifted toward the brothers, especially after they began spending large amounts of money in the months following the murders. In March 1990, they were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.



Their trial began in 1993, with separate juries for each brother. Prosecutors alleged the brothers acted out of financial greed, while the defense maintained they acted in self-defense after enduring years of parental abuse.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently addressed the upcoming parole hearing on his podcast This is Gavin Newsom. During a conversation with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story creator Ryan Murphy, the governor suggested he could make a decision as early as Labor Day, depending on the outcome of the August 21–22 hearings.

Murphy joked that Newsom might watch the Netflix series over the holiday weekend, to which the governor laughed and replied, "I’m going to see if I made the right decision… like, ‘Jesus, I should’ve watched this before.’” Newsom added that he has deliberately avoided watching the series to ensure it doesn’t influence any potential ruling.

Erik’s current health crisis has added a new layer of urgency to the case, raising questions about whether his condition might affect the upcoming parole hearing or even accelerate a decision regarding his potential release.