Erik Menendez, one of the two brothers convicted in the 1989 murders of their parents, has been hospitalized due to a "serious medical condition," his attorney confirmed to several US news outlets. While the nature of his illness has not been officially disclosed, some reports suggest a potential kidney issue, though this remains unconfirmed.
Menendez, 54, was transferred from a San Diego prison to an external medical facility on July 18. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, he is currently in "fair condition," but no further details were provided. His hospitalization comes just weeks before he and his brother, Lyle Menendez, 57, are set to appear before a parole board, scheduled for August 21.
In 1989, Erik and Lyle Menendez shot and killed their parents at their family home in Los Angeles. The siblings were later convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole.
Now, decades later, their case is back in the spotlight. On May 13, a judge from the Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled to resentence the Menendez brothers to life with the possibility of parole. So how real is the prospect of the two men enjoying freedom anytime soon, and what exactly were the circumstances leading up to that terrible night some 35 years ago?
Click through this gallery to revisit the shocking story of the Menendez brothers.