Prison detainee Erik Menendez allegedly suffers from a severe health issue, according to his legal representative, who suggests his release from incarceration on this ground.
In a recent development, Erik Menendez, one of the brothers serving life sentences for the 1989 murder of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, has requested a medical furlough from prison due to a serious medical condition. The 57-year-old, currently hospitalized in a medical facility, is set to appear before the California parole board on August 21 and 22, 2025.
Mark Geragos, Menendez's attorney, has formally requested California Governor Gavin Newsom to grant this furlough to allow Erik temporary supervised leave for treatment ahead of the Menendez brothers’ parole hearing. Geragos argues that given Erik’s serious condition, a furlough would enable him to adequately prepare for the parole hearing with his attorney.
As of late July 2025, Governor Newsom is reviewing the request. The medical furlough process typically requires a prison doctor to certify a "significant and permanent medical condition" leading to permanent medical incapacitation, after which a medical parole board would review the case. However, in this case, the governor’s office is directly evaluating Erik’s situation considering his current hospitalization and treatment for kidney stones.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed Menendez's hospitalization. The nature of Menendez's serious medical condition has not been disclosed by Geragos.
Erik and his brother, Lyle Menendez, have been serving life sentences without parole for the murder of their parents since 1989. The brothers, who were 18 and 21 years old at the time of the shootings, admitted to the crimes but maintain they killed their parents in self-defense after enduring years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
In May 2022, a judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. This decision came a month after the release of a documentary and a miniseries on their case by Netflix, which renewed public attention on the brothers' case.
In the months following the Netflix projects, a number of the brothers' extended family members called for their release. However, California governor Gavin Newsom's office and a representative for the family declined to comment when contacted by the Associated Press.
The parole board hearing in August will be a crucial step in determining the brothers' future. As Erik recovers from his hospitalization, the outcome of his furlough request will significantly impact his ability to prepare for this hearing. The decision is expected soon, with Governor Newsom reviewing the request as of late July.
- In light of Erik Menendez's hospitalization due to a serious medical condition, the health-and-wellness aspect of his life has become a significant concern, especially in relation to his preparation for the upcoming parole hearing in August.
- As the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirms the hospitalization of Erik Menendez, speculations about his medical-condition remain a topic of general-news discussion, with the outcome of his request for a medical furlough expected to have a significant impact on the crime-and-justice system's decision regarding his parole.
