Lyle's Turn. And Yes, He’s Got A Shot at Getting Out.

all this time he was going to be denied. Now the brothers, the Menindez brothers, back to back days, they're essentially running it back today, same time, same place, same crime, But it doesn't mean they're going to get the same result. Eric and Lyle Mendez, you know their story by now, kill their parents in a horrific shooting. Back in nineteen eighty nine. They were convicted of the crime, sentenced through

life in prison without the possibility of parole. But momentum with the past couple of years, new information that came out, and look documentaries came out, hit shows came out on Netflix. There was a new public interest and a push in understanding the trauma. Maybe that these boys say, they went through at the hands of their father with abuse. So things changed and momentum changed and sentiment changed to where

they ended up getting their sentences changed. They were re sentenced to fifty years to life, which then made them immediately eligible for parole. And that is why we are where we are today. So Eric Menandez had his parole hearing yesterday, the first in thirty years that they've been in prison that either one of them have ever had

such a thing that went ten hours. Look, they were talking yesterday, this thing was gonna go three It ended up going ten hours, and ultimately he was denied parole, which shocked at least a lot of the experts will tell you out there that we're talking ahead of time that yes, they thought he had a good chance. Yes, they thought the public sentiment was on his side. Yes, they believed there was a good sh chants that he was going to hear those words you have been granted parole.

He heard something much different, And as the parole board and the commissioners explained, their logic is much different from the logic of the public. Let me explain now, Lamelndez say they're going to run it back. They really are doing pretty much the same routine as yesterday. It's going to start as of this recordings supposed to star. It's been going on about what an hour, so eleven thirty Eastern time, eight thirty local out there in California. They're

both being housed at the San Diego prison. They're doing the video conference from prison. Again. They're not going physically to a courtroom for this, and it's all being done on video conference. There are no cameras in the courtroom, there's no audio in the courtroom. Only one poll reporter is allowed in there, and they can't disseminate the information

as the hearing is going on. So that's yesterday. We were all waiting around here for ten hours for any sliver of information about what had happened in the parole board hearing. We are having to do that same process today. We're not going to be able to hear any information until the end and until a decision is made and all the back and forth and all the questioning and all the family statements, and the district attorney has an opportunity to speak as well, which they have clearly said

they want the boys. I say the boys, and again you'll understand why I say that they were young men at the time of the desk, but they're grown men certainly now. So he has been Now Eric at least learned his fate. He can come back in three years try for parole again. Here is the fascinating part. Now we're getting more about why the board denied Eric parole and gives us some insight into what Lyle is going

to be up against. So Eric and so much that you have heard how many times have you heard that the boys that the boys, sorry, these grown men have been model inmates, have been model prisoners, and therefore they have come. They have admitted to what they've done. They've shown remorse, they have been good prisons. They've started all these programs. They both have done college courses. One of them has a college degree and a master's, all these

support groups that they've started. So doing all of these things in prison, that's fine. But still we're getting word from the commissioners that here is the issue, not the crime. It was actually what they've been doing in prison that's the problem. So they concluded that he quote poses an unreasonable risk to public safety because of serious violations of prison rules. They may clear we are not actually keeping you in prison because you viciously murdered your parents by

shooting them more than ten times. Reloading, All right, that's actually not why we're keeping you in prison. It's his behavior in prison that is keeping him in prison, according to the commissioners, one of them saying, and I quote, one can pose a risk to public safety in many ways with several types of criminal behavior, including the ones you were guilty of in prison. Now, what were those

crimes criminal behavior in prison? Well, they've laid out at least eight or nine rules violations he's had over the past thirty years that he's been in prison. A couple of those violations included instances of violence fights that he got into in prison. This is Eric Menendez we're talking about. He also had cell phones. You're not supposed to have illicit cell phones. To have illicit cell phone use in prison,

he has done it on more than one occasion. District attorney says, actually one of those times was as recent as January when he had That was a time when a lot of legal back and forth was going on, and he had a cell phone in prison at that time. Who would do that? They argue, knowing that you need to be on your best behavior because you might have a parole hearing and you're trying to get out of prison.

And still he was breaking the rules. Also, he was caught with drugs, they said, on a couple of occasions that came out. Also an issue where he allegedly helped a gang in a tax scheme. Now, Eric was able to explain that, at least yesterday, that he only did it because he was threatened by a prison gang if he didn't help. Still, Commissions didn't seem to be buying that. And also at one point he was found with supplies

to make prison wine. Of all things. Now, with the commissioner considering all of this, said, and here's a very these may be two of the most meaningful quotes that we heard yesterday from the commissioner saying, one, I do believe in redemption, or I wouldn't do this job. But based on the legal standard, we find you continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Goes on to say this, contrary to your support beliefs, you have not been a model prisoner, and frankly, we find that a

little disturbing. He went on. And they continue to talk about, yes the staff submitted things saying that he was a model inmate. These folks, the commissioners, look at this totally differently. Yes there is public sentiment, Yes there is a different understanding of abuse and trauma at this point. Yes, they have admitted to what they've done. Yes, they have done these programs, they've done all of these things. And the

staff said, yes they are model inmates. From the view of these parole board, this parle board, they are not. They're not anywhere close. They are guys who have actually committed at least Eric, who has committed crimes, pretty serious ones while he has been in prison. At one point, the one thing about the crime they seem to be really hung up on and really disturbed by was the mom. Why did you have to shoot my dad? Was the one? Right that was abusive? Dad was the one that you feared.

Dad was the one. So why did you have to viciously kill your mom? Shoot her? Repeatedly? And this is where some reloading took place. They were hung up on it, and they were asked directly, she didn't have to die, why did you shoot her? And Eric's only response is that he just wished he had not done it. They didn't believe at all, or it came up again, this idea of the they were under imminent threat, that they

feared for their lives. But they were twenty one and eighteen who were clearly capable of walking out the house, picking up a phone, going to a police station. Yes, some people will say these folks were these young men were traumatized and abused by their dad, and you can't really hold that against them. Well, the proboard is telling them they had other options and other decisions to make besides shooting your parents a dozen times. But still they

made clear this was about his behavior in prison. And so that's what now brings us to Lyle. And Lyle, if the parole board is going to be viewing more so and judging more so based on what Lyle did in prison, then he might actually have a better shot at getting out than his brother. We continue here now with as we speak, another parole board hearing is underway, this time for Lyle Menendez, the brother of Eric. Eric

yesterday and his parole hearing was denied parole. He'll have to stay in prison, certainly at least another three years before he's eligible to be to go before the parole board. Again, his brother Lyle is up today, same crime, same circumstances, So why would we expect he could possibly have any

different outcome? For this reason, One, he is speaking to a different set of parole commissioners, So the people who were there and judging the case of Eric Menindez are not going to be the same ones in there judging the case of Lyele Menndez. That could work to his favor, but it could also work against him. But the point there being, it's going to be a different set of eyes, So it's not an automatic that these are the same folks or they are going to be thinking the same

way that they thought about Eric. The other thing is Lyle, while maybe he has not been a model prisoner, he's been closer to it than his brother Eric has. Now. Lyle, it appears, only has about five violations in prison rules violations over the thirty years, opposed to his brother's nine. I believe the prosecution has been saying but a or nine that his brother has. Yes, he has about half. He has far fewer, but one of the biggest deals he does not have any violence on his record. He

has been in thirty years of prison. He has been there for thirty years incarcerated, and according to an assessment, he has not been a single fight in thirty years that he has been incarcerated. In fact, he had to be moved earlier in his when he first got into prison. He had to be moved because he was attacked and wouldn't fight back. Even so, he was essentially beat up, so they moved him through a special general population area because this was a guy who would not fight back.

Now is that a big enough of a deal. Maybe this panel today is going to not put as much emphasis on what kind of prisoner or hey he has been, but maybe they put more emphasis on what kind of criminal he was in shooting and killing his parents, And maybe they are going to focus more so on the actual crime than what he's been doing in prison. We just don't know. We know the family that spoke yesterday.

I think they said eighteen was the count. Family supporters spoke before the board and spoke up for Eric to get out of prison, and they have been supportive over the past couple of years. Heard an attorney speaking on television, can't remember who it was and where it was, but made the point that he has never seen in all his years as a prosecutor showing up to a parole hearing, and the victims' families are all pushing for the release

of the person who killed their family member. Yes, all these people in the Eric in Lyle are related to these folks, but the family could very well say the hell with them, let them rot in jail because they killed our family members. But no, at least eighteen showed up and spoke spoke out about him getting out of prison.

They did put out a statement. They expressed their disappointment in what happened with Eric Menendez yesterday, but said this, we turn our attention to Lyle's hearing, and while it is undoubtedly difficult, we remain cautiously optimistic and hopeful that the commissioner will see in Lyle what so many others have, a man who has taken responsibility, transformed his life, and is ready to come home again. Five violations. We shall

see how much that plays into it. Look, I don't know, and I wouldn't believe anybody who told me how long this hearing is going to go today, because nobody was anticipating ten hours yesterday. And we are once again folks at the Mercy. I spoke on this before. This wasn't like the Diddy trial we covered, where there were several reporters in the room and they get in real time give us updates about testimony about things that were happening. This is not the case. This is not a public hearing.

This is not a court hearing. I should say. There's no judge sitting in there. But this is supposed to be a private This is supposed to be confidential at least, but they do allow at least one person in there, a reporter, but they can't give us live updates. So, folks,

we are standing by once again at this point. A lot of people expect, of course he's going to stay in prison as well, but they could absolutely shock us, surprise us once again at least, and if they do, it could ride on just how much better of a prisoner they think he has been the past thirty years than his brother has been. With that, folks, we are going to keep an eye on it. We will hop on and we will update you as soon as we get it. Robock will be back. I think you'll hear

her voice in the next recording. She's on a plane landing very soon. But this case is of I mean incredible public interest over the past thirty five years now, and it just so happened. We mentioned this week August twentieth was the thirty sixth year anniversary of that killing, and all that just so happened, And this is happening on the very week of that anniversary. So folks say with us, keep an eye out and a reminder on

your phone. The Apple podcast app top right, corn says follow Just click that and you'll get our updates automatically. Don't have to go you look searching for all right, folks, TJ. Holmes here see yes in