The Menendez Brothers will spend another Thanksgiving behind bars, a situation that disappointed those eagerly awaiting their possible release. Erik and Lyle Menendez gained widespread media attention following the success of Netflix’s documentary about their infamous murder case. Netflix’s Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story sparked an outpour of support for the brothers. Thousands of fans, including the outgoing District Attorney George Gascón, started advocating for their release.
However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom delayed their case for the incoming D.A. Nathan Hochman’s appointment. On that note, Erik and Lyle will spend Thanksgiving at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. New reports claim the brothers won’t miss out on meals. They have the option of turkey or ham for the main course and plenty of tasty side dishes. The side dish menu includes green salad, fresh mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet corn, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce.
The brothers also get to choose from various assorted pies for dessert. While this is a delectable way to mark the festivities, it paled in comparison to their possible freedom. A source close to Erik and Lyle claims their family desperately hopes the brothers can reunite with their elderly relatives. The list includes their 92-year-old aunt, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, and 85-year-old aunt, Terry Baralt, a cancer patient. The insider told In Touch, “This could be the last chance” for Erik and Lyle to meet these relatives.
Fans recently echoed similar sentiments on X, wondering if the brothers would be released before the celebrations. Someone penned their query directly to the California Governor, Newsom, asking, “Menendez brothers home by Thanksgiving?” Another noted there were two weeks left to the festivities and hoped for a “good sign.” Meanwhile, a third boldly questioned the delay, writing:
“What’s taking so long with the Menendez Brothers? It will be Thanksgiving soon.”
California’s Governor Delays the Menendez Brothers’ Clemency Requests
As stated, Gov. Newsom has decided to wait for the new D.A. to take office next month. He announced the postponement of the Menendez brothers’ clemency case in a statement on Monday, November 18. Newsom acknowledged the D.A.’s role in ensuring justice and stressed that voters chose Hochman for the position.
Therefore, he believed the new D.A. should review the brothers’ case before making clemency decisions. Hochman was on the same page as the governor, noting in a statement that he would analyze the case. The D.A.-elect promised to review the brothers’ past trials, speak to the victims’ family members, and more. His predecessor, Gascón, started the movement for Erik and Lyle’s release.
Gascón cited the massive support for the brothers as one of the reasons he pushed for clemency. Before his clemency petition, the outing D.A. implored the court for a resentencing, per The Hollywood Reporter. Erik and Lyle were slammed with life sentences without parole for killing their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
Although the Menendez brothers could not secure their freedom before Thanksgiving, will the new D.A. bring good news?
