Lawyer seeks release for Erik Menendez, citing medical condition
The 57-year-old had been serving a sentence of life without parole along with his brother Lyle Menendez after being convicted of murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills, California, home in 1989. A judge recently resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole.
They will appear in front of the state parole board Aug. 21 and 22. If the board determines they are eligible for parole, Gov. Gavin Newsom must review the decision before they are released.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed Erik Menendez was taken to an outside medical facility Friday and remained there Tuesday 'in fair condition.'
His lawyer, Mark Geragos, told TMZ that Menendez was having a 'serious medical condition' and should receive a prison furlough, something the governor granted some inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geragos did not elaborate on the condition, but he said releasing Menendez was the 'only fair and equitable thing to do' so he had time to prepare for his parole hearing properly.
Geragos' office confirmed his comments to TMZ but did not make him available for an interview.
Newsom's office and a representative for the family declined to comment.
A judge last week ordered Los Angeles prosecutors to explain why Erik and Lyle Menendez's murder convictions should not be reexamined in light of new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father.
While defense attorneys at the time argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The order was in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by the Menendez brothers in May 2023 seeking a review of their convictions in a process separate from their resentencing bid.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
LA home linked to ‘TikTok cult' pastor seen in Netflix docuseries raided in sex-trafficking probe
Federal agents descended upon a California home connected to the 'TikTok Cult' pastor who was the subject of a recent Netflix documentary series Friday — as part of an investigation into sex trafficking and other criminal claims. Several people were detained after a Tujunga home partially owned by Pastor Robert Shinn was raided by agents from the FBI, IRS, US Postal Service and Department of Labor, the Los Angeles Times reported. Officials served warrants related to allegations of sex trafficking, money laundering, mail fraud, tax evasion and COVID-19-related fraud, according to the outlet. Advertisement 3 Federal agents raided a home home partially owned by Pastor Robert Shinn. KTLA 5 The identities of those detained were not immediately clear. At least six handcuffed people and one woman holding a child were seen in KTLA chopper footage of the raid of the residence, which featured in the Netflix docuseries 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult,' the station reported. Advertisement One witness reported hearing flash-bang grenades go off at the start of the 6 a.m. law enforcement operation, according to the LA Times. Self-proclaimed 'man of God' Shinn, who founded Shekinah Church in 1994, helped create 7M Films in 2021, and the LA-based talent management company allegedly lured dancers with promises of turning them into TikTok stars. Some of those dancers were also conscripted into the Shekinah Church and acted as recruiters for 7M, which they claim is inseparable from the religious organization. Former members of Shekinah Church who also worked for 7M films alleged Shinn abused and manipulated them, with some even accusing the guru of sexual assault. Advertisement 3 A source claimed the property involved in this search warrant was the same home that was at the center of the series, KTLA reported. KTLA 5 3 Several people were detained during the raid. KTLA 5 Melanie Goldman, a former dancer and parishioner, claimed in the documentary that she saw 'half a dozen girls' run into the church 'screaming at the top of their lungs,' TV Insider reported. Other former dancers also claimed that there is no distinction between 7M and the church, with Shinn instructing members in fiery sermons shown in the doc to 'die to' their families, or no longer have contact with them. Advertisement Dancer Aubrey Fisher, a former 7M and Shekinah member, claimed Shinn forced him to give as much as 70% of his income to the twisted church — including a 10% 'man of God fee' for himself, according to the outlet. Former member Melanie Wilking went viral with a 2022 Instagram plea to try and reach her sister Miranda, who was 'no longer in control' of her life. The siblings had a popular joint TikTok page when they joined 7M and had a falling out when Melanie left over concerns about Shinn's control over members, according to People, but have since reconciled. Shinn has previously denied claims that the Shenikah Church and 7M are affiliated, TV Insider reported. In 2022, he filed a defamation lawsuit against several former church members after they referred to the organization as a cult, CNN reported last year.
Boston Globe
18 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Judge rejects request to suppress Google search information from Cohasset man who allegedly killed, dismembered wife
Walshe pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, disinterring a body, and lying to investigators in connection with the Jan. 1, 2023 slaying of his wife, On New Year's Eve 2022, the couple hosted Ana Walshe's former employer at their house, who left around 1:30 a.m., officials have said. Advertisement The guest told investigators he had dinner with the couple and they shared champagne and wine, according to an affidavit. Brian and Ana Walshe were in a good mood and everyone enjoyed themselves, the guest said. By 4:50 a.m., authorities allege, Ana Walshe, 39, was dead, and the disturbing Google searches started. They included 'how to embalm a body,' '10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to,' 'how to stop a body from decomposing,' and 'how long before a body starts to smell.' They were made between 4:55 a.m. and 5:47 a.m. on New Year's Day, prosecutors said. In court papers last month, Walshe's lawyers said he and his prior counsel, Tracy Miner, had reached an agreement on Jan. 6, 2023, allowing authorities to conduct 'a limited search' of Walshe's iPhone and his son's iPad. Advertisement Walshe's consent was necessary at the time because State Police hadn't obtained a warrant for the devices. Walshe's lawyers said the agreement covered 'all communications' between Dec. 25, 2022, and Jan. 6, 2023, the date the electronics were turned over. The sole exception was for communications between Walshe and his lawyer, the filing said. According to the memo, State Police began a forensic search of the devices on the night of Jan. 6, 2023, and continued into the early hours of Jan. 7. An investigator who conducted the work alerted colleagues on the evening of Jan. 7 to the Internet searches in question, which were later referenced in an affidavit for a search warrant, records show. But before a warrant was issued, the filing said, 'police willingly and knowingly violated the agreement by exceeding the agreed-upon scope by downloading and searching the entire content of' Walshe's phone, his son's laptop, and a third laptop with a cracked screen that he turned over. Prosecutors in court papers last month had urged a denial of Walshe's supression motion, arguing that 'discovery of the internet searches and location data from the iPhone and iPad was certain as a practical matter.' Over several days, prosecutors allege, Walshe dismembered his wife's body in the basement and discarded her clothes and other evidence in a dumpster at a liquor store near his mother's home in Swampscott. He also allegedly disposed her remains in dumpsters at apartment complexes in Abington and Brockton. Police also allegedly found blood in the basement of the couple's home. Advertisement Seven days after Ana Walshe's disappearance, police searched the dumpster near the home of Brian Walshe's mother. Inside, they found a COVID vaccination card for Ana Walshe, a Hermes watch, and clothing Ana Walshe was known to wear, according to prosecutors. Forensic testing showed her DNA on items found in the dumpster, prosecutors said. While Brian Walshe failed in his bid to get the Google searches suppressed, he did succeed in getting additional evidence tossed. On Friday, Freniere granted Walshe's request to suppress evidence gleaned from separate search warrants related to a 'GPS install on a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle' with Mass. plates, as well as 'Verizon Records of Cell Phone Number 617-939-8646 insofar it authorized ... location data obtained for December 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022,' records show. Walshe is currently held without bail, and his trial is scheduled to begin in October, records show. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Los Angeles Times
20 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Feds raid Tujunga home of ‘TikTok Cult' pastor in sex trafficking, fraud investigation
A home linked to a pastor featured in the Netflix docuseries 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult' was raided Friday by federal agents in relation to an investigation into sex trafficking, money laundering and other accusations, according to authorities. Property records show the home in the 7700 block of McGroarty Street in Tujunga is linked to multiple owners, including Matthew Shinn, pastor of the Shekinah Church and the subject of a 2024 docuseries. He operates a talent agency that purportedly helps social media stars and TikTok dancers find jobs in Los Angeles. Those featured in the docuseries call Shinn an abusive cult leader. They say he kept them away from their families by telling them that in order to be saved, they had to 'die' to their loved ones who did not follow his teachings. He reportedly told them that if they were 'godly' enough, they would also save their families from damnation. On Friday, agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Dept. of Labor served a warrant at the home around 6 a.m., according to the El Monte Police Department, which provided assistance along with the FBI. The search was related to allegations of sex trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion and COVID pandemic-era related fraud. SWAT officers were at the scene to assist, according to the El Monte Police Department. Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza said in a prepared statement that officials will provide more details as the investigation progresses. 'U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. This remains an active case, and we are continuing to gather and review information,' Mendoza said in a statement. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation say the federal warrant is connected with the alleged cult featured in the Netflix docuseries but details from the investigation remain under seal in federal court. News footage from KTLA showed several handcuffed people outside the residence, but sources familiar with the investigation say there have not yet been any arrests. It was not immediately clear if Shinn had any legal representation. The docuseries follows former Shekinah Church members who worked with the 7M Films talent agency, which was founded by Shinn in 2021. The series reveals that the dancers who were represented by talent agency started as social media collaborators who frequently posted dance videos together on TikTok, but that group found themselves attending Bible study with Shinn. Those dancers invited friends to join what eventually became the core group of the alleged cult. Shinn reportedly called himself 'the Man of God' and said his teachings would grant his followers salvation. Los Angeles Times staff writers Brittny Mejia and Kimberly Aguirre contributed to this report.
