Menendez Brothers could be freed: Kim Kardashian, Cooper Koch and others welcome new possibilities for Lyle and Erik
Celebrities Kim Kardashian, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, and Cooper Koch have expressed excitement after Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc¨®n advocated for resentencing the Menendez brothers in the case about the 1989 killings of their parents. This major development could make Lyle and Erik Menendez eligible for immediate parole. The resurgence of interest in the Menendez brothers' case comes after the release of two Netflix projects: Ryan Murphy's poignant docudrama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which premiered in September, and the gripping true-crime documentary The Menendez Brothers, which debuted earlier this month.
George Gasc¨®n's push for the Menendez Brothers
?Gasc¨®n highlighted that the recent release of the Menendez Brothers' documentary has brought a tremendous amount of public attention to the case. He remarked that his office was "flooded" with requests for information, and even though this case was already scheduled to be heard in late November, he decided to move this forward because he didn't have the resources to entertain the requests.
Kim Kardashian reacts to Menendez Brothers' resentencing?
Among those who requested the Menendez Brothers' release was Kim Kardashian. The long-time supporter of Lyle and Erik, who is also pursuing a law degree, took to Instagram to release her statement following the bombshell news.
"The Menendez brothers were granted a second chance at life and will wake up tomorrow finally eligible for a parole hearing," she wrote. "They could be released in as early as 6 months. Thank you, George Gasc¨®n, for revisiting the Menendez brothers' case and righting a significant wrong. Your commitment to truth and fairness is commendable."
'Deeply moved': Nicholas Alexander Chavez
Actor Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who portrayed Erik Menendez in Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story series, also shared a statement to express gratitude to DA Gasc¨®n.
Chavez stated, "I'm deeply moved by DA Gasc¨®n's decision to reconsider the Menendez brothers' sentences. Erik and Lyle's story highlights the complexities of trauma, abuse, and the flawed justice system."
?'Hope for the progress': Cooper Koch?
Cooper Koch, whose poignant portrayal of Lyle Menendez was critically acclaimed, also reacted to the development. He highlighted how Gasc¨®n's recommendation could provide a new lease of life to the Menendez Brothers, who are serving jail time without parole at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude and hope for the progress we've seen today. Gasc¨®n's recommendation has ignited a renewed sense of possibility that Lyle and Erik could finally be released after decades behind bars," he wrote. "I hope to see Erik and Lyle soon. Free from all of this."
Why are the Menendez Brothers jailed?
The Menendez brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison after they were convicted of first-degree murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, and conspiracy to commit murder.
In a shocking confession, Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, acknowledged executing the tragic 1989 shooting of their parents. The brothers feared they would be killed by their parents to conceal the dark secret of Jose's prolonged sexual abuse of Erik.
Multiple members of their extended family have pleaded for their release, highlighting the impact of sexual abuse that the brothers faced at a tender age.
