Menendez Brother’s Health Crisis: Kidney Stones Spark Plea for Freedom
Erik Menendez, hospitalized for severe kidney stones, seeks a medical furlough ahead of his August 2025 parole hearing, as he and brother Lyle, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, face their first chance at freedom in over 35 years. Their resentencing to 50 years to life, spurred by claims of abuse and rehabilitation, has reignited public debate amid ongoing legal and health developments.
On July 18, 2025, Erik Menendez, 54, was hospitalized for severe kidney stones, prompting his attorney, Mark Geragos, to request an immediate medical furlough from California Governor Gavin Newsom. This health crisis comes just weeks before a critical parole hearing on August 21-22, 2025, for Erik and his brother Lyle, 57, who have served over 35 years for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. Geragos told TMZ, “It’s a serious condition. I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot. I think that it’s the only fair and equitable thing to do.” Erik, treated at a hospital near Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, remains in fair condition, with potential complications like infections or blockages under evaluation.
Originally sentenced to life without parole, the brothers’ sentences were reduced in May 2025 to 50 years to life under California’s youthful offender law, as they were 18 (Erik) and 21 (Lyle) at the time of the crime. At the resentencing, Lyle expressed remorse, stating, “I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification. The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable. I committed an atrocious act against two people who had the right to live, my mom and dad. Today, 35 years later, I am deeply ashamed of who I was.” Erik echoed this, accepting “full responsibility” and expressing “profound sorrow,” admitting, “I fired all five rounds at my parents and went back to reload. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I’m truly sorry.”
The 1996 trial saw the brothers claim self-defense due to alleged sexual abuse by their father, while prosecutors argued the motive was a $14 million inheritance. Renewed interest, fueled by Netflix’s 2024 “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and a documentary, has polarized opinions. Posts on X show support, with one user stating, “Erik’s health crisis demands compassion free the Menendez brothers!” Former DA George Gascón supported resentencing, but current DA Nathan Hochman opposes release, citing insufficient accountability. A July 7, 2025, court order may also reopen the case based on new abuse evidence. Governor Newsom, who will decide by Labor Day if parole is recommended, faces a high-stakes decision amid public scrutiny.