Erik Menendez has dedicated his time in prison to being the best husband and father possible, he revealed in a letter included in his latest bid for freedom.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon filed a 57-page motion on Friday recommending both Erik, now 53, and his older brother Lyle, 56, be released from prison.
The brothers are currently serving life sentences with no parole for the August 1989 slaughter of their parents Kitty and Jose inside their Beverly Hills mansion.
Talia Menendez, now 29, is the biological daughter of Erik’s wife Tammi, but considers Erik her father.
She has emerged recently as one of the most outspoken advocates for her dad and uncle’s freedom, and was in the room on Thursday afternoon to hear Gascon’s announcement.
Gascon and supporters of the duo – including almost 30 relatives – argue the sentence didn’t adequately account for the boys’ claims they were being molested by their father and had endured years of abuse inside the family home.
In a filing seen by DailyMail.com, the Menendez brothers were painted as exemplary prisoners who have dedicated their lives to bettering themselves and other inmates.
Talia Menendez, now 29, is the biological daughter of Erik’s wife Tammi, but considers Erik her father
53-year-old Erik (pictured here in January 2023) said in his letter that he fnds value in his life ‘living as a caring and loving husband and father’ to his wife Tammi and stepdaughter Talia
While she doesn’t share photos of her face publicly, she has released several pictures of herself and Erik over the years, sharing special moments behind bars
Undated letters written by both Erik and Lyle were included in the filing, shedding light on their priorities behind bars.
Erik wrote: ‘Today I find my value in the exchanges of kindness I have with others, in living as a caring and loving husband and father.’
He married Tammi Menendez behind bars in 1999, taking on her daughter, Talia, as his own.
Talia’s biological father died by suicide when she was 10 months old, and she has been visiting Erik regularly behind bars since she was two.
While she doesn’t share photos of her face publicly, she has released several pictures of herself and Erik over the years, sharing special moments in prison.
One of the pictures Talia has released is a family picture from prison on Christmas Day when she was a child, but she covered her face
Erik married Tammi Menendez behind bars in 1999, taking on her daughter, Talia, as his own
Talia Menendez, now 29, is the biological daughter of Erik’s wife Tammi (pictured with Erik)
This includes a family picture from prison on Christmas Day when she was a child, and other pictures of Erik holding and cuddling her.
‘People think they know my dad, his brother, the trial and the upbringing, when really they don’t have the slightest idea the amazing human he really is,’ she said in a message alongside one of the sweet family snaps.
‘Visiting him are some of my favorite childhood memories… My dad was more of a dad than most out in the real world. I remember the guards allowing us to bring in my homework (up to 10 pages) and my dad helping me with it every visit.’
The 29-year-old runs an Instagram page dedicated to her father’s freedom, and was present in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon when Gascon made his recommendation.
The Menendez brothers could soon walk free from jail after they murdered their parents, Kitty and Jose (pictured center) in 1989
Relatives of the Menendez brothers were in Los Angeles on Thursday to hear the outcome of the press conference
After the announcement, she said: ‘Today was a deeply significant day for our family. I am encouraged by the possibility that my father may soon have a chance for parole… Gascon has acknowledged that he has served enough time and should be released.’
But Talia said she was ‘disappointed’ and had hoped the DA would go further in trying to secure Erik’s quick release.
‘I firmly believe my father deserves to come home now, and I’m holding on to hope that the resentencing judge will agree.’
Talia described the ‘special’ moment of sharing such monumental news with her mother ‘and extended family on my father’s side.’
‘We spent hours talking, exchanging stories and strengthening the bond we all share.’
Kitty Hernanedez’ niece Diane held her hands together at her face and closed her eyes ahead of the announcement
The Menendez brothers could soon walk free from prison after more than 30 years behind bars
Erik said in his letter that the ‘process of rebuilding my life has been long and challenging,’ forcing him to ‘let go of the only value system I had ever known – beliefs and principles instilled in me by my parents from infancy.’
He has spent his years behind bars exploring ‘a new the meaning of values, love, and compassion within a community.
‘I had to reshape my understanding of success and reevaluate what it means to live a life of true purpose.’
The filing revealed Erik has received just seven infraction notices across his 34 year incarceration.
These have all been for relatively minor incidents – two fist fights in 1997 and 2011, possession of a cell phone and ‘excessive physical contact with a female visitor’ in 2006.
Lyle (pictured here in January 2023) bought a Porsche Carrera, Rolex watch and two restaurants in the immediate aftermath
The duo, then just 18 and 21, killed their parents Jose and Mary Louise ‘Kitty’ Menendez inside their million-dollar Beverly Hills home in August 1989
Erik also refused to provide a urine sample in 2003, and misled a guard about taking controlled medication on one occasion in 2005.
A letter written by Lyle honed in on his experiences inside prison as a known survivor of sexual abuse.
He said: ‘The unprecedented publicity surrounding the case and my own admissions as a ‘survivor of sexual abuse brought an outpouring of communication with other victims of rape and incest across the country and world.’
‘My own life will never be free of my suffering but I found a way to use shared experiences to help others and myself heal.’
Lyle said he has dedicated himself to connecting with abuse survivors in prison, and has spent ‘countless hours’ on the cause, ‘personally writing thousands of letters to abuse survivors in response to their letterse to me.’
‘Another surprising result of being so public about my own sex abuse is the enormous number of prisoners who have confided their own shameful experiences with this trauma.
‘They found in me a safe place to share.’
The filing revealed that Lyle has had just five rule violations inside prison, and once had to be moved out of general population to the ‘special needs’ section due to his unwillingness to fight or defend himself.
Chilling crime scene photos showing the blood-soaked couch where Jose Menendez was shot
‘It’s important to note that Lyle Menendez has not been in a single fight in the 30 years he has been incarcerated,’ the filing states.
‘In 1997 he had to be moved from General Population to the Special Needs yard because he wouldn’t fight back when attacked.’
His rule violations include possessing a cell phone, misusing the communal phone, possessing a lighter and receiving a pair of Adidas shoes from a guest.
He once also refused to leave administrative segregation.
Gascon said in his filing that the brothers’ behavior behind bars over a sustained period of time demonstrates they are of no risk to the community.
He also urged a court to consider the duo’s youth at the time of the offences – just 18 and 21.
Under California law, offenders aged under 26 at the time of their crime who receive any sentence except life without parole are entitled to parole consideration after 25 years behind bars.
Bearing this in mind, Gascon hopes both Erik and Lyle will be resentenced and can be released on parole immediately when factoring in time already served.
A judge will ultimately be responsible for the final decision, but this development has given hope to relatives who have been pursuing their release for years.
