Erik Menendez refers to himself as a ‘father’ in jaw-dropping new prison letter as freedom beckons
Erik Menendez has dedicated his time in prison to being the best husband and father possible, he revealed in a letter that was part of his final bid for freedom.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon filed a 57-page motion Friday recommending that both Erik, now 53, and his older brother Lyle, 56, be released from prison.
The brothers are currently serving life sentences without parole for the August 1989 slaying of their parents Kitty and Jose at their Beverly Hills mansion.
Talia Menendez, now 29, is the biological daughter of Erik’s wife Tammi, but considers Erik her father.
She has recently emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for the freedom of her father and uncle, and was in the room Thursday afternoon to hear Gascon’s announcement.
Gascon and supporters of the duo – including nearly 30 family members – claim the sentence did not sufficiently take into account the boys’ claims that they were abused by their father and suffered years of abuse in the family home.
In a dossier seen by DailyMail.com, the Menendez brothers were portrayed as exemplary inmates who 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
Erik, 53 (pictured here in January 2023) said in his letter that he values his life “living as a caring and loving husband and father” to his wife Tammi and stepdaughter Talia
Although she doesn’t share photos of her face publicly, she has released several photos of herself and Erik over the years, sharing special moments behind bars.
Undated letters written by both Erik and Lyle were included in the files, shedding light on their priorities behind bars.
Erik wrote, “Today I find my value in the kind exchanges I have with others, in living life as a caring and loving husband and father.”
He married Tammi Menendez behind bars in 1999 and adopted her daughter, Talia, as his own.
Talia’s biological father died by suicide when she was ten months old, and since she was two she has regularly visited Erik behind bars.
Although she doesn’t share photos of her face publicly, she has released several photos of herself and Erik over the years, sharing special moments in prison.
One of the photos Talia released is a family photo from prison on Christmas Day when she was a child, but she covered her face
Erik married Tammi Menendez behind bars in 1999 and adopted 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 photo from prison on Christmas Day, when she was a child, and other photos of Erik holding and cuddling her.
“People think they know my dad, his brother, the process and upbringing, when in reality they have no idea of the amazing human being he really is,” she said in a post alongside one of the sweet family snaps.
“Visiting him is one of my favorite childhood memories… My father was more of a father than most people in the real world. I remember the guards allowing us to bring in my homework (up to 10 pages) and my father 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 were soon able to leave prison after killing 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 very important day for our family. “I am encouraged by the possibility that my father may soon have an opportunity 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 prosecutor would go further in her effort to secure Erik’s quick release.
“I firmly believe that my father deserves to come home now, and I remain hopeful that the sentencing judge will agree.”
Talia described the “special” moment she shared such monumental news with her mother “and the extended family on my father’s side.”
“We talked for hours, swapping stories and strengthening the bond we share.”
Kitty Hernanedez’s niece Diane held her hands to her face and closed her eyes prior to the announcement
The Menendez brothers could soon be released from prison after more than three decades 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 that my parents had taught me since childhood.” had instilled.’
He has spent his years behind bars exploring “a new 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 with real purpose.”
The filing revealed that Erik received only seven violation citations during his 34-year incarceration.
It all involved relatively minor incidents: two fistfights in 1997 and 2011, possession of a mobile 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, murdered their parents Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in their $1 million Beverly Hills home in August 1989.
Erik also refused to provide a urine sample in 2003 and once deceived a security guard in 2005 about taking controlled medication.
A letter from Lyle elaborated on his experiences in prison as a known survivor of sexual abuse.
He said: ‘The unprecedented publicity surrounding the case and my own admission as a ‘sexual abuse survivor’ prompted a flood of communications with other victims of rape and incest across the country and the world.”
“My own life will never be free of my suffering, but I have found a way to use shared experiences to help heal others and myself.”
Lyle said he has dedicated himself to reaching out to survivors of abuse in prison, and has spent “countless hours” on the case, “personally writing thousands of letters to abuse survivors in response to their letters to me.” ‘
‘Another surprising consequence of speaking so openly about my own sexual abuse is the enormous number of prisoners who have shared their own shameful experiences with this trauma.
“They found in me a safe place to share.”
The filing revealed that Lyle has only had five rule violations in jail, and once had to be moved from the general population to the “special needs” section because of his unwillingness to fight or defend himself.
Chilling crime scene photos show blood-soaked couch where Jose Menendez was shot
“It is important to note that Lyle Menendez has not had a single fight in the 30 years he has been incarcerated,” the filing states.
‘In 1997 he had to be transferred from General Population to the Special Needs yard because he did not fight back when attacked.’
His rule violations included owning a cell phone, misusing the community phone, possessing a lighter and receiving a pair of Adidas shoes from a guest.
He also once refused to leave administrative segregation.
Gascon said in his filing that the brothers’ behavior behind bars over an extended period of time shows that they do not pose a risk to the community.
He also urged the court to take into account the duo’s youth at the time of the offenses – just 18 and 21 years old.
Under California law, offenders who are under 26 years of age at the time of their crime and who receive a sentence other than life without parole are entitled to parole after 25 years behind bars.
With this in mind, Gascon hopes that both Erik and Lyle will be resentenced and immediately released on parole, taking into account time already served.
A judge will ultimately be responsible for the final decision, but this development has given hope to relatives who have been seeking their release for years.