From Beverly Hills Murder to Courtroom Drama: The Full Menendez Brothers Timeline.
The story of Lyle and Erik Menendez has never truly left the headlines. It began in August 1989 with the chilling murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, inside their opulent Beverly Hills home. What followed was a sensational legal rollercoaster that would captivate the nation: explosive courtroom revelations, shocking allegations of abuse, mistrials, life sentences, and, now in 2025, a stunning bid for resentencing.
Whether you’re revisiting the case or discovering it for the first time, this detailed timeline traces every twist and turn—from the early warning signs to the most recent courtroom battles that could alter the Menendez brothers’ fate forever.
🕰️ Menendez Brothers Case Timeline: 1988–2025
1988–1989: Prelude to the Murders
1988: Erik Menendez and his friend Craig Cignarelli draft a screenplay titled Friends, depicting a wealthy teenager who kills his parents for inheritance.
1988: Lyle Menendez is expelled from Princeton University for plagiarism.
1988: The brothers commit burglaries targeting friends' homes, stealing approximately $100,000 in valuables. Erik, still a minor, takes the blame and is sentenced to probation and therapy with Dr. Jerome Oziel.
1989: The Murders
August 20: Lyle (21) and Erik (18) fatally shoot their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home.
September–October: Erik confesses the murders to Dr. Oziel, who records sessions with the brothers.
November: Craig Cignarelli, wearing a wire for the police, attempts to capture Erik's confession.
1990–1996: Arrests and Trials
March 1990: Lyle is arrested; Erik surrenders shortly after returning from Israel.
1993: The first trial begins, featuring separate juries for each brother. The defense introduces claims of long-term sexual abuse by their father.
1994: The trial ends in a mistrial due to jury deadlock.
1995: A second trial commences; the judge limits the admissibility of abuse evidence.
1996: Both brothers are convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
1997–2021: Appeals and Incarceration
1997–1999: Appeals for a new trial are denied.
2010: A post-conviction petition citing new abuse evidence is rejected.
2017: Another petition, including testimony from former Menudo member Roy Rosselló alleging abuse by Jose Menendez, is denied.
2018: The brothers are reunited at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility after years in separate prisons.
2022–2023: Renewed Legal Efforts
November 2022: A clemency petition is submitted to Governor Gavin Newsom, highlighting new abuse allegations and the brothers' rehabilitation.
May 2023: A new hearing is requested based on Rosselló's allegations and a letter from Erik to his cousin detailing abuse.
2024: Legal Developments
October: Outgoing LA District Attorney George Gascón recommends resentencing the brothers to 50 years to life, acknowledging their age at the time of the crime and evidence of abuse.
November: Newly elected DA Nathan Hochman opposes resentencing, labeling the brothers' abuse claims as "lies."
2025: Recent Events
January: Resentencing hearings are postponed due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
March: Hearings are rescheduled but delayed again.
April 11: A judge denies DA Hochman's motion to withdraw the resentencing petition, allowing hearings to proceed.
April 17–18: Resentencing hearings take place. The prosecution presents graphic evidence; the defense criticizes the approach as re-traumatizing.
June 13: A final hearing is scheduled to determine if the brothers' sentences will be reduced, potentially making them eligible for parole.
