Menendez brothers' uncle blasts LA district attorney's 'absolutely criminal' move as killers get one step closer to freedom
The uncle of Erik and Lyle Menendez slammed Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon after he called for the brothers receive a new sentence on Thursday.
The uncle of Erik and Lyle Menendez slammed Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon after he called for the brothers receive a new sentence on Thursday.
Milton Andersen, whose sister Kitty Menendez was slain by the duo in 1989, called it extremely offensive that Gascon failed to inform him before making the bombshell decision.
Mr. Gascóns disdain for Mr. Andersen is absolutely criminal, an attorney for the uncle, 90, said in a statement.
He didnt see fit to let Mr. Andersen know what he was going to do before he told the general public, and that is extremely offensive, he continued.
Erik and Lyle became one step closer to freedom Thursday after Gascon recommended they be resentenced for killing their parents.
Gascon held a press conference on Thursday afternoon where he recommended Erik and Lyle receive a new sentence
Erik and Lyle are one step closer to freedom after Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon recommended they be resentenced for killing their parents
Andersen has said he firmly believes that his nephews were not molested.
The statement from his attorney, Kathleen Cady, claimed the uncle was vehemently against letting the infamous duo free.
Mr. Andersen remains convinced that the sentence that was originally imposed by the judge was the appropriate one, and he hopes the judge does not go along with Gascons recommended sentence, the statement read.
The attorney said last week that Andersen wants his nephews to serve their life sentences in full, even if it was just for killing his sister.
At the time of the trial, at least according to the court of appeal opinion, one of the brothers said that killing her was - quote - a mercy killing, she said.
Gascon held a press conference on Thursday afternoon where he recommended Erik and Lyle receive a new sentence - 35 years after they murdered their parents Kitty and Jose inside their Beverly Hills mansion.
His recommendation is that they be eligible for parole immediately.
I believe they have paid their debt to society... and the system provides a vehicle for their case to be reviewed by a court of law, Gascon said.
It will be up to a court to ultimately determine the final sentence for the brothers.
Kitty Menendezs brother Milton Andersen (pictured left) slammed Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon after he recommended the Menendez brothers receive a new sentence at a press conference Thursday
Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1996 after their first trial was declared a mistrial
Lyle and Erik were convicted of the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1996 after their first trial was declared a mistrial.
The brothers never denied killing their parents by shooting them 14 times with 12-gauge shotguns in their million-dollar Beverly Hills home in August 1989 when they were just 18 and 21.
But Lyle and Erik, now aged 53 and 56, claimed they acted in self-defense.
They said they were lifelong victims of sexual abuse at their hands of their father, a high-flying businessman who worked across several industries, and that they were terrified that their parents were about to kill them to prevent the allegations from coming out.
The announcement comes on the back of mounting community pressure to reconsider the life sentences without parole Erik and Lyle received at their 1996 trial.
The brothers have never denied killing their parents, but have long claimed they were driven to do so after suffering years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their businessman father.
The public was unconvinced by their claims in the 1980s, believing instead they were ruthless monsters.
But in recent months, a TikTok movement of more sympathetic fans and a duo of Netflix shows has won them favor.
Now armed with Gascons recommendation, the Menendez case will return to court, where a judge will ultimately decide their fate.
Gascon approached the Menendez brothers relatives when he made his way into the press conference on Thursday afternoon, greeting Kittys sister Joan, 92, who has long advocated for her nephews release.
A sympathetic Gascon told the packed room: I do believe they were molested. They have been in prison for nearly 35 years. I believe that they have paid their debt to society.
A sympathetic Gascon told the packed room: I do believe they were molested. They have been in prison for nearly 35 years. I believe that they have paid their debt to society
Relatives of victim Kitty Menendez spoke amongst themselves ahead of the DAs announcement on Thursday. Pictured: Arnold VanderMolen whispering in the ear of Kittys sister, Joan VanderMolen, 92
After careful review, I came to a place where I believe that resentencing is appropriate.
I am going to recommend that to a court tomorrow. What that means, is that were going to recommend to the court that life without possibility of parole be removed, and they be sentenced for murder, which, because there were two murders involved, thats 50 years to life.
But under the law, because at the time they were under 26 at the time these crimes occurred, they will be eligible for parole immediately.
Gascon had the opportunity to recommend the charges be reduced to manslaughter, but he opted against that because these were clearly murders.
I dont believe manslaughter would have been the appropriate charge given the premeditation, he said.
I believe these were clearly murders. I dont think it would be appropriate to go all the way down to manslaughter.
In an extraordinary twist, he revealed the brothers werent given a warning about the announcement, and said they were likely watching the TV or learning about their new lifeline from behind bars.
While Gascon hopes the Menendez brothers will soon be freed, he acknowledged that his office is deeply divided over the case.
53-year-old Erik (pictured here in January 2023) revealed he found it absurd that police working on the case didnt arrest him and his brother at the scene of the crime
Lyle (pictured here in January 2023) bought a Porsche Carrera, Rolex watch and two restaurants in the immediate aftermath
We dont have a universal agreement. There are people in the office that strongly believe they should stay in prison the rest of their life, they do not believe they were molested, he said.
And there are people in the office that strongly believe they should be released immediately.
Gascons decision has been widely welcomed, but critics suggested he is using the Menendez case to win favor ahead of his reelection bid this November.
He is seeking re-election on a platform of sentencing reform, and is currently trailing his opponent, former US Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman.
Cady claimed that Gascón is using the case to raise political capital as he nears an open race for the DA role in LA County.
Mr. Andersen just wants to make sure that whatever decision is made, that its not politically driven, that it really is done because of the right reasons, Cady said.
She also claimed that Andersen has been locked out of discussions with the DAs office and that he has been denied input on the fate of his sisters killer, which she says is against California law.
Mr. Andersen understands that hes not going to be the one whos going to be able to make the final decision, but he wants to make sure that the person who does make that final decision doesnt forget about him, she added.
Mark Geragos, defense attorney of Erik and Lyle Menendez, appeared in high spirits ahead of the official announcement
The Menendez brothers spent seven months on the streets after they murdered their parents, Kitty and Jose (pictured center)
But the vast majority of the Menendez family have been supportive of the brothers.
Last week, they held a press conference where they spoke out in hopes that new evidence will exculpate them.
Defense lawyer Mark Geragos, representing the family at a press conference in LA, said: If they were the Menendez sisters they would not be in custody.
Kittys sister Joan Andersen VanderMolen also spoke at the press conference, describing the pain the family has felt for over 30 years.
Their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable cruelty of their father, Vandermolen said.
She added: The truth is, Lyle and Erik were failed by the very people who should have protected them—their parents, the system, and society at large.
The family introduced a coalition called Justice for Eric and Lyle and spoke of how the brothers have lived a life of purpose in their 35 years in prison - even though they did not expect to ever be freed.
They also said they have started a petition for people to support the brothers resentencing and release.
