Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative advocating for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, today announced that a formal complaint and motion has been filed to compel the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office to comply with Marsy’s Law. The filing follows the DA’s unexpected and graphic display of crime scene photographs at an April 11 court hearing – display that continues to re-traumatize the victims’ family and led to Terry Baralt’s hospitalization.

The Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative advocating for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, is calling for immediate accountability and oversight following a disturbing and reckless decision by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office during Friday’s court hearing that has had a detrimental impact on the victims’ family. In open court, and without any prior warning, prosecutors displayed an unredacted, graphic image of José Menendez’s lifeless body – an act that retraumatized family members in attendance and led to the hospitalization of José’s 85-year-old sister, Terry Baralt, who is now in critical condition.

The Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative advocating for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, today issued key legal context in advance of a hearing schedule for April 11, 2025. This hearing will determine whether Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman can legally withdraw a resentencing motion previously filed by former DA George Gascón under California Penal Code 1172.1

The Los Angeles DA's office is embroiled in a civil war over the long-awaited Menendez brothers resentencing hearing scheduled for March this year. 

County prosecutors Brock Lunsford and Nancy Theberge are planning to sue District Attorney Nathan Hochman and his deputy John Lewin for retaliation, defamation, and discrimination after they clashed over the case. 

Lunsford, who oversaw the resentencing unit, and Theberge, recommended that the Menendez brothers be freed from prison - at odds with the DAs who wanted them to remain behind bars. 

The brothers’ relatives said in a statement that they hope the meeting “will put us a step closer to spending next Christmas reunited as a family”

The announcement came after what prosecutor Nathan Hochman said was a "productive" meeting with the brothers' relatives who support their release.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Friday he had a "very productive" meeting with the Menendez brothers' family, but he still has not decided whether he will support any actions that might lead to the brothers' release.

Family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez advocating for their resentencing met with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman Friday, a meeting the newly elected DA described as a "productive" hours-long discussion.

The lawyer representing 24 relatives who support the immediate release of Erik and Lyle Menendez criticized Nathan Hochman for his recent media appearances.

With fresh evidence resurfacing in the public eye, the Menendez brothers’ case has again drawn public attention potentially reopening their controversial trial. 

Erik and Lyle Menendez, a wealthy Beverly Hills family, were convicted in August of 1996 for the murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez.

Kitty was a stay-at-home mother, while Jose was a prominent entertainment executive.

LOS ANGELES -- The lawyer representing 24 relatives who support the immediate release of Erik and Lyle Menendez criticized the new Los Angeles County district attorney, saying he is politicizing the case.

The new Los Angeles District Attorney has reiterated that the Menendez Brothers cases will be handled separately.

In his first network interview, incoming DA Nathan Hochman explained to NBC News’ Lester Holt that the infamous brothers face their own individual cases. While that was always the case – each brother faced their own jury and case initially – much of the public packages the pair together when thinking about their crime.

Freedman added that Anderson “has no personal knowledge of how Lyle and Erik have behaved while incarcerated” and also cannot “opine on whether they are a threat to society since he has not interacted with them in any way.”

“Was it Kathy Cady (Anderson’s lawyer) that you met with on behalf of Milton Anderson?” Freedman continued. “If so, how was the meeting arranged with Kathy Cady? Did she support your campaign for office? Did her support of your campaign or her writing a published op-ed give Milton Anderson any advantage to be able to have his attorney meet with you?”

On Wednesday Hochman transferred Deputies Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford, who petitioned a judge to grant parole to Erik and Lyle Menendez, from the case. In October, Theberge and Lunsford submitted a 57-page filing that attested the “overwhelming” evidence of the Menendez brothers’ rehabilitation in prison should result in a resentencing, which would immediately make them eligible for parole.

In January, Mark Geragos, another lawyer for the brothers, will ask Judge Michael Jesic to consider a resentencing.

Recently, a Los Angeles judge delayed a hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez in their bid to be resentenced for the murder of their parents 35 years ago. Renewed interest in the brothers’ case, fueled by Netflix’s recent docudrama series and documentary on the brothers, has drawn celebrity advocates to call for their release, alongside an army of TikTok accounts. Unfortunately for the brothers, social advocacy rarely corresponds to judicial change.

Newly sworn-in Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has transferred two deputies who petitioned a judge to grant parole to Erik and Lyle Menendez, who became a cause célèbre following the dramatization of their decades-old conviction in Netflix’s “Monsters.”

"A female juror from the Menendez brothers' first trial is speaking out — about how sexism and homophobia impacted that outcome, and why she thinks they deserve to walk free now." 

"The documentary also dives into the motives behind the killing of their parents, including the abuse they claim to have endured at the hands of both their mother and father (primarily the latter)."

"For years, Lyle Menendez, 56, fought to be transferred to the San Diego prison where his younger brother, Erik Menendez, 53, has been housed since 2013." 

"Bozanich issued a warning to those criticizing her, adding, ‘And by the way, all of you TikTok people, I am armed. We got guns all over the house. So don’t mess with me.’"

"A new Netflix documentary joins the parade of content about the Menendez brothers — amid an ongoing inquiry to re-examine their case."