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LAW & ELECTION 2024 - George Gascón is likely facing defeat in his bid for re-election as District Attorney for Los Angeles County.
In an effort to garner votes, Gascón announced through various media outlets that he plans to recommend a re-sentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, who are currently serving life without parole.
Gascón cited newly discovered evidence, specifically a letter written by one of the brothers months before the murder of their parents. The undated letter alleges that both brothers were sexually abused by their father. However, this letter has been known for the past two to three years.
The big question is: why did Gascón wait so long to request a thorough examination of the Menendez case files?
Let’s go back in time.
In high school, Erik Menendez co-wrote an amateur screenplay with a classmate titled “Friends,” about a wealthy young man who kills his parents for inheritance money.
During recent television interviews, Gascón never mentioned this screenplay, nor the brothers’ repeated lies about their parents' murders, including claims that their father was involved in illegal activities and possibly killed by the Mafia.
Additionally, Gascón did not address the fact that both brothers committed multiple burglaries in Calabasas in 1988, stealing over $100,000 in cash and jewelry. The Menendez family then moved to Beverly Hills.
The killing was premeditated.
On August 18, 1989, the brothers visited several gun stores trying to purchase handguns. Due to state laws requiring a two-week waiting period and issues with Lyle's driver’s license, they opted to buy shotguns. They drove to San Diego, where they purchased Mossberg 12-gauge shotguns, using a stolen license from Lyle's friend Donovan Goodreau.
Two days later, as Jose and Kitty Menendez were watching TV in their Beverly Hills home, Erik and Lyle entered the den and shot them multiple times. Jose was shot six times, including a fatal shot to the back of his head. Kitty was shot six times as well. As she crawled away, Lyle retrieved more ammunition from the car and fired a fatal shot to her face.
The brothers then left, changed their clothes, and buried the shotguns. Later, they attended the “Taste of L.A.” festival at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Returning home, Lyle called 911, tearfully telling the operator that someone had killed their parents. Erik could be heard screaming in the background. Responding police officers and forensic staff described the scene as the "most brutal" they had ever encountered.
After the murders.
In the months following the murders, the brothers spent extravagantly on luxury items, including a Porsche, three Rolex watches, and a café. They spent over $700,000 before being arrested.
During the investigation, one of Erik's high school classmates informed Beverly Hills PD that Erik had confessed to the murders.
It became clear that the motive was financial gain.
The Menendez brothers faced two trials. The first ended in a mistrial, but in the second, they were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Gascón’s review.
Only in the past two months has Gascón begun reviewing the Menendez case. This is puzzling, especially since Gascón has never tried a case in court. It would likely take seasoned Deputy District Attorneys at least a year to review trial transcripts and re-interview witnesses.
Court records show that during the time before their arrest, the brothers never told their psychologist that they had been sexually abused by their father.
When Gascón held a press conference with the Menendez family present, one might wonder how many of them were alive in 1989, when the murders took place. For those living out of state, who paid for their travel and accommodations?
A broader comparison.
Recently, the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese paid over $800 million to victims of sexual abuse by clergy members. None of these victims sought to kill their abusers. The same can be said for victims of Sean "Diddy" Combs — none attempted to kill him.
What’s at stake.
What Gascón isn’t saying is that if the brothers' sentences are reduced and they are released, a wave of civil lawsuits could follow, leading to significant payouts from the state of California and Los Angeles County. The Menendez brothers and their attorneys stand to gain substantially.
So, what is Gascón’s real motive for revisiting the Menendez case? One might guess he’s trying to win votes.
BREAKING
At today's press conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recommended a re-sentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, citing new evidence of past abuse by their father. This decision follows public pressure and recent legal changes that allow for a review of cases involving pre-conviction trauma. Gascón's office has been examining a letter written by Erik Menendez and testimony from a former band member of Menudo, alleging sexual abuse by Jose Menendez..
(Caroline Aguirre is a retired 24-year State of California law enforcement officer, LAPD family member, community activist and Neighborhood Watch captain. Aguirre is a CityWatch contributor.)
