True crime expert Ana Garcia on the ‘one thing' that has always bothered her about Lyle and Erik Menendez
Ana Garcia has some discovery of her own.
After deep diving into the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were sentenced to life without parole for the 1989 murder of their parents, Kitty and José Menendez, the 'True Crime News' podcast host is bringing a piece of evidence that doesn't sit right with her into the forefront.
'The one thing that has always bothered me about Erik and Lyle,' Garcia exclusively told The Post, 'is that how many more Erik and Lyles are there behind bars with similar circumstances? They are not getting the support and attention and maybe the compassion that they are getting. And that goes to fairness for me, and that's what I think about a lot. They are so high profile it's all about them. What about the others?'
7 Erik Menendez (C) and his brother Lyle (L) are pictured, on August 12, 1991 in Beverly Hills.
AFP via Getty Images
After two trials, Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without parole. However, all that changed after the judge reduced their sentence to 50 years to life in May. Now, the brothers are eligible for parole.
Although Lyle and Erik have served over 30 years behind bars, Garcia posed the question weighing on everyone's mind: 'Have they served enough time for their murders?'
7 The Menendez brothers circa 1989.
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
'I have also seen other convicted killers spend a fraction of the time behind bars that these two have. Is that fair?' The Emmy award-winning journalist continued. 'I mean, there is a case in Texas that I covered where this man killed an 11-year-old girl. He sexually abused her. He killed her, and he threw her in a trash bin. He served only 11 years for that murder. That's not right. That's not fair. So where is the fairness in our justice system?'
Garcia also wanted to remind the public that a hearing doesn't necessarily equal freedom.
'Let's keep in mind, they are still in prison,' the true crime expert stated. 'They haven't been released. What has happened is now, they are eligible for parole. Well, in the state of California, the parole rate of inmates who go before the board and are actually released is 14%. That's the last statistic we have in California. A lot of people view California as being a very liberal state, but if you look at the parole rate of 14%, that's not a parole board that lets people out easily.'
7 'True Crime News' host Ana Garcia.
Instagram/@anagnews
Lyle and Erik's parole board hearing was originally scheduled for June 13 but has been pushed back to August 21 and August 22.
'One of the brothers actually said on Facebook that they thought it was a good idea,' Garcia added, 'because it gives them more time to prepare, more time for the defense, their attorneys to present because a lot is going to happen at this parole hearing.'
The pair getting the chance to be heard in front of the board is also thanks to those online who brought their case back into the limelight decades later.
In 2024, Ryan Murphy aired the limited series 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,' starring Cooper Koch as Erik and Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle. Koch also supported the brothers at their resentencing hearing.
7 'True Crime News' podcast host Ana Garcia.
Instagram/@anagnews
'I do believe that the show had an impact,' Garcia explained. 'I also believe the documentary did. I also believe that Kim Kardashian writing her essay about why she believed that we should judge them based on how we all now view the kind of sexual abuse they say that they experienced. I think there has been a groundswell of support to have their case re-examined based on how we now understand victims of crime. Meaning they were victims here.'
'But as I've said before to you, if every child who was abused killed their parents, we'd have a lot of dead parents. What I ask myself over and over again – this was clearly premeditated. They had so many opportunities not to kill their parents. Yet they went through with this plan, and then it was the cover-up afterwards.'
Along with a strong support system from around the country, Lyle and Erik also have their family members standing by them. Joan VanderMolen, Kitty's sister, has fought for their freedom along with Terry Baralt, José's only living sister.
7 Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Getty Images
'I hear the Menendez family speaking loudly and clearly to every judge who will listen to them, every prosecutor who will listen to them,' Garcia shared, 'that they believe Lyle and Erik have already served enough time. Is that enough for a murder? For some cases, it is.'
Which might increase Lyle and Erik's chances of being released.
The siblings will also get a chance to write a statement of personal change, which is 'their explanation to the board of what they were thinking at the time, why they did it, what they now know, and how they've been rehabilitated.'
7 Emmy award-winning journalist Ana Garcia.
Instagram/@anagnews
'What I see a lot of is if you deny your crime, if you're still saying that you're innocent, that you're still saying you didn't kill him or her, that the parole board doesn't like that,' Garcia expressed. 'They want to hear you admit to your crime. They want to see that you've been rehabilitated, and they really want you to take responsibility, so that's going to be really important.'
'The question is, the violence,' she noted. 'The level of violence in this crime and complete disregard for human life. How are you going to explain this?'
Their crime is one that Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman can't reconcile.
'He has tried to block everything,' Garcia confessed. 'He does not believe they are rehabilitated. He didn't want them to be resentenced. In fact, it was so interesting – you rarely have the actual DA arguing a case in court, but this time, he stood with the other prosecutor assigned to the case and argued the case in front of the judge. That's how strongly the DA feels about this. Is he happy with the resentencing? No.'
7 Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing, on December 29, 1992 in Los Angeles.
AFP via Getty Images
Hochman, 61, who was elected late last year, isn't looking to back down.
'He has said he will or his prosecutors will be attending the parole board hearing, and I think he's going to make his case as to what he believes,' Garcia said. 'He described them in that hearing as being a moderate risk to society. That's one of the biggest hurdles that the parole board has to figure out. Are you a risk to society? No matter how much everyone has screamed, we need to see some change we have. Their sentence has been reduced, but they are still not free.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
14 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. sheriff's officials apologize, delete tweet calling Iranians ‘victims' of ‘tragic' bombings
On the same day the U.S. military bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said on its social media channels their 'hearts go out' to Iranian 'victims.' The post sparked quick backlash — and a quick apology. It's unclear what time the initial message, which was on X, Facebook and Instagram, was posted Sunday. The department deleted the post from X and edited its Facebook and Instagram posts to remove the first two sentences. An apology issued Sunday evening referred to the original post as 'offensive and inappropriate.' According to a screenshot of the tweet from KTLA, the original post read, 'Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran. While this tragic event occurred overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state, and federal partners.' The post also stated that, although there are no known threats to Los Angeles County, the department would be increasing patrol checks at places of worship and other sensitive locations throughout the county 'out of an abundance of caution.' The edited versions of the post on Instagram and Facebook exclude the first sentence of the original post and any mention of Iran, instead stating that the department is monitoring 'the situation overseas.' In its apology, the department said the post was made in error and did not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the department. 'As a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters. Our mission remains solely focused on protecting public safety and serving our diverse communities,' the statement continued. The department has launched an internal review to determine how the posts were created and published, and it is taking steps to strengthen 'social media oversight protocols,' the statement said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Multiple people dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes at vacation hotspot
Six people died and two others were injured when a boat capsized in California, with the Coast Guard searching for two additional individuals. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement that six people died when a boat capsized near the D.L. Bliss State Park at Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City, California on Saturday afternoon. An additional two people were injured and taken to a local hospital, according to the Coast Guard, which says the agency is looking for two more people who are missing. The incident happened on Saturday at 3 p.m. after law enforcement agencies received a report that 10 people were in the water, prompting the Coast Guard to send a response crew to the area. Human Remains Found In Sunken Boat Bring Closure To Texas Family's Alaska Tragedy In a Facebook post, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said it would resume search operations on Sunday morning. The sheriff's office said it wouldn't reveal the identities of individuals who died in the incident until their families have been notified. Read On The Fox News App The 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel reportedly capsized because of a large swell. Several People Hospitalized In Florida After Coast Guard Responds To Separate Holiday Boating Incidents According to the Coast Guard, winds at the time were just over 34 mph, with a 6-8-foot swell. The condition of the two people who were injured is unknown. SouthTahoeNOW reported that the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office received multiple reports from boaters on Saturday due to weather article source: Multiple people dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes at vacation hotspot
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Teen girls among 145 stabbed with syringes across France at popular music festival, 12 sickos arrested
Nearly 150 concertgoers, many of them teenage girls, were jabbed with a syringe in a bizarre attack at a nationwide music festival in France Saturday, and a dozen suspects have been nabbed in connection with the disturbing barrage, according to officials. Local and national law enforcement are investigating the wave of deranged incidents in which suspects wielding syringes with unknown contents jabbed 145 victims at the popular Fêtes de la Musique, or World Music Day, celebrations across the country, causing several to be hospitalized. 3 Police in France are investigating a bizarre syringe attack at Saturday's Fêtes de la Musique, or World Music Day, celebrations on Saturday. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The first attack was reported to police at 9:15 p.m. on the Rue du Palais in Metz in northeastern France, according to Mayor François Grosdidie. Authorities received a report of a suspect involved in one of the attacks and used security footage to track him down, Grosdidie said. 'The municipal police identified him on Rue Serpenoise, arrested him, and made him available to the National Police and the Justice Department,' he added. 'I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cellphone, will lead to the identification of other attackers.' Firefighters responded promptly to each attack, deploying seven emergency vehicles and creating a staging area for the victims on Place d'Armes, Grosdidie said. French officials were anticipating unprecedented crowds for this year's Fêtes de la Musique, a free music festival held every year on the summer solstice. 3 Millions of people across France attended Saturday's Fêtes de la Musique. Abdullah Firas/ABACA/Shutterstock It showcases a mix of professional and amateur musicians who play at different venues, including parks and street corners in cities across the country. Officials estimated that 50,000 people attended the concerts in Metz while 'unprecedented crowds' descended upon Paris. Across France, there were millions of people who took to the streets Saturday evening for the festival, according to La Monde. None of them were deterred by posts on Snapchat and other social media sites warning of the bizarre syringe attack. The Interior Ministry said 145 victims across the nation reported being stabbed with needles, with Paris police officials probing 13 cases in the capital. Officials did not specify if the syringes were filled with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, used by sexual assailants to make women and girls vulnerable to sexual assault, La Monde reported. As of Sunday, at least three people reported feeling sick after getting jabbed by the syringe-wielding maniacs. 3 Police arrested 12 suspects whom they believe were involved in the twisted syringe attacks, the Interior Ministry said. AFP via Getty Images 'Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,' the ministry said. Police arrested 12 suspects whom they believe were involved in the twisted syringe attacks, the Interior Ministry said. The attackers are believed to have targeted around 50 victims, a police source told La Monde.
