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Erik Menendez, one-half of the infamous brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989, was recently taken out of prison to be treated for a medical issue.
He has been diagnosed with a “serious medical condition,” his attorney said Tuesday, according to NBC News.
Why is Erik Menendez in a medical facility?
Erik’s family confirmed to ABC News that he’s in the hospital and has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, but they did not disclose what it was. TMZ, which broke the news of the health development, reported that Erik is being treated for kidney stones.
Erik, who has been incarcerated in a San Diego prison, was taken to an outside medical facility Friday and he remains in fair condition, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told NBC News.
“Medical privacy laws restrict us from providing details,” the corrections department told by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The health scare follows a recent major legal development for the Menendez brothers. On May 13, 2025, a Los Angeles judge resentenced the brothers from life without parole, to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole.
During the resentencing hearing, Menendez acknowledged the gravity of the crimes. He called them “cruel and vicious” and said he was “directly responsible for it all,” according to NBC News. The judge ruled that the brothers no longer posed an “unreasonable risk” if released.
What were the Menendez brothers convicted of?
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder for the fatal shootings of their parents, Mary Louise “Kitty” and José Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989.
The siblings have maintained that they feared for their lives and that José had threatened to kill them if they told anyone about his alleged sexual abuse of his sons.
Prosecutors said the two brothers’ motive was greed and highlighted their lavish spending spree after the slayings.
Renewed interest in the case and the push for the brothers’ release came after the murders were examined in in a Peacock documentary and a Netflix series.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom could potentially seek to grant the brothers clemency and make his decision at any time, though he has said he will wait until after their final parole board hearing to decide.
The impact of Erik’s medical issues on the parole process remains to be seen. It could affect the scheduling of the hearings.
TMZ reported that Newsom is currently reviewing Erik’s change in medical condition to determine if a “prison furlough” due to the health condition is appropriate.
