Latest news with #CaliforniaBoardofParoleHearings
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Convicted ‘Hillside Strangler' serial killer gets denied parole; will be eligible in a decade
Kenneth A. Bianchi, one of the two men convicted in the so-called 'Hillside Strangler' serial murders that terrorized Los Angeles in the 1970s, lost his most recent bid for parole Thursday after 46 years behind bars. The California Board of Parole Hearings decided to deny Bianchi's parole after hearing testimony from several victims and opposition from prosecutors. The panel determined that he should be eligible for parole again in 10 years, officials said. Behind bars, Bianchi, now 74, changed his name to Anthony D'Amato two years ago, Bianchi has been behind bars, most recently in Washington state, since 1979 when he and his cousin and crime partner, Angelo Buono Jr., were apprehended in connection with 12 murders of women in Los Angeles and Washington state. The two men impersonated police officers to lure in their victims from nearby locales — an bus bench in Eagle Rock, the Tamarind Terrace apartments in Hollywood — before raping, torturing and murdering them, then discarded their bodies on hillsides around the city. Bianchi cut a plea bargain that held out the possibility of parole, and he agreed to testify against Buono. Bianchi pleaded guilty to the five California killings and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnap and rape in October 1979. He later pleaded guilty to the two Washington killings. He is serving his sentences for all the killings at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary in southeastern Washington state but is entitled to California parole hearings. Buono, a Glendale upholsterer, was convicted after a two-year trial of nine of the Hillside Strangler killings in late 1983. Buono was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He died in a California prison in 2002. In January 1979, Bellingham police detectives in Washington state arrested Bianchi as the prime suspect in the strangulation murders of two Western Washington University students, Karen L. Mandic and Diane A. Wilder. He would admit to those killings and then reveal his involvement in multiple murders in L.A. Despite his plea and confession, Bianchi has insisted in appeals over the years on his innocence. Bianchi alleged his confession and guilty pleas were coerced by 'hypnotic manipulation' and that the facts of his confession did not match the physical evidence.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Menendez brothers' parole hearing delayed until August
Erik and Lyle Menendez's hearing in front of the California state parole board has been pushed back to August. The delay on Tuesday came after Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew his request for the parole board to evaluate the brothers for clemency as they seek their freedom after 35 years behind bars for killing their parents. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. They were 18 and 21 at the time. A Los Angeles judge opened the door to freedom last week by giving the brothers a new sentence of 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. They initially had a clemency hearing scheduled in June, but it has since been converted to a parole suitability hearing and pushed back to August 21 and 22, their lawyers said. Scott Wyckoff, executive officer of the California Board of Parole Hearings, said in an email to lawyers on both sides that Governor Newsom withdrew the request for a clemency investigation last Thursday in light of the judge's re-sentencing decision. The governor's office declined to comment on the decision but noted that the clemency application was still considered active. The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, said in a video posted on her TikTok that the change would benefit the brothers, given that many people are not granted parole at their first hearing. "This is not a bad thing," Baralt said. "Most people prepare for parole for like a year ... the more time that they can have to prepare, the better." Erik and Lyle Menendez's hearing in front of the California state parole board has been pushed back to August. The delay on Tuesday came after Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew his request for the parole board to evaluate the brothers for clemency as they seek their freedom after 35 years behind bars for killing their parents. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. They were 18 and 21 at the time. A Los Angeles judge opened the door to freedom last week by giving the brothers a new sentence of 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. They initially had a clemency hearing scheduled in June, but it has since been converted to a parole suitability hearing and pushed back to August 21 and 22, their lawyers said. Scott Wyckoff, executive officer of the California Board of Parole Hearings, said in an email to lawyers on both sides that Governor Newsom withdrew the request for a clemency investigation last Thursday in light of the judge's re-sentencing decision. The governor's office declined to comment on the decision but noted that the clemency application was still considered active. The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, said in a video posted on her TikTok that the change would benefit the brothers, given that many people are not granted parole at their first hearing. "This is not a bad thing," Baralt said. "Most people prepare for parole for like a year ... the more time that they can have to prepare, the better." Erik and Lyle Menendez's hearing in front of the California state parole board has been pushed back to August. The delay on Tuesday came after Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew his request for the parole board to evaluate the brothers for clemency as they seek their freedom after 35 years behind bars for killing their parents. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. They were 18 and 21 at the time. A Los Angeles judge opened the door to freedom last week by giving the brothers a new sentence of 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. They initially had a clemency hearing scheduled in June, but it has since been converted to a parole suitability hearing and pushed back to August 21 and 22, their lawyers said. Scott Wyckoff, executive officer of the California Board of Parole Hearings, said in an email to lawyers on both sides that Governor Newsom withdrew the request for a clemency investigation last Thursday in light of the judge's re-sentencing decision. The governor's office declined to comment on the decision but noted that the clemency application was still considered active. The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, said in a video posted on her TikTok that the change would benefit the brothers, given that many people are not granted parole at their first hearing. "This is not a bad thing," Baralt said. "Most people prepare for parole for like a year ... the more time that they can have to prepare, the better." Erik and Lyle Menendez's hearing in front of the California state parole board has been pushed back to August. The delay on Tuesday came after Governor Gavin Newsom withdrew his request for the parole board to evaluate the brothers for clemency as they seek their freedom after 35 years behind bars for killing their parents. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. They were 18 and 21 at the time. A Los Angeles judge opened the door to freedom last week by giving the brothers a new sentence of 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under 26 when they committed their crimes. They initially had a clemency hearing scheduled in June, but it has since been converted to a parole suitability hearing and pushed back to August 21 and 22, their lawyers said. Scott Wyckoff, executive officer of the California Board of Parole Hearings, said in an email to lawyers on both sides that Governor Newsom withdrew the request for a clemency investigation last Thursday in light of the judge's re-sentencing decision. The governor's office declined to comment on the decision but noted that the clemency application was still considered active. The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, said in a video posted on her TikTok that the change would benefit the brothers, given that many people are not granted parole at their first hearing. "This is not a bad thing," Baralt said. "Most people prepare for parole for like a year ... the more time that they can have to prepare, the better."
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California Gov Newsom sets Menendez brothers parole board hearing date in bid for clemency
On his new podcast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that the Menendez brothers will have parole board hearings in mid-June for the governor's office to determine whether they should be granted clemency. While discussing Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's recent opposition to the Menendez brothers' legal battle for re-sentencing, Newsom announced that Lyle and Erik Menendez will go before the California Board of Parole Hearings individually on June 13 and plead for clemency from the governor. The brothers are in prison for killing their parents in 1989. "The DA now, the new DA, is pulling back recommending from the Menendez brothers to be re-sentenced," Newsom said on his "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast. "But it doesn't impact the processes underway, that review for clemency in my office or the independent risk assessment that will be concluded on June 13 by the Board of Parole Hearings. And I'll repeat that, on June 13, both Lyle and Eric Menendez independently will have their final hearing." Menendez Brothers: Los Angeles Da Nathan Hochman Asks To Withdraw Predecessor's Motion To Free Killers Newsom explained that after the parole board hearing, a report will be submitted to his office for consideration in deciding whether he should commute the brothers' sentences. Read On The Fox News App "A report then will be submitted to me on the 13th of June for consideration," Newsom said. "We will submit that report to the judge for the re-sentencing, and that will weigh into our independent analysis of whether or not to move forward with the clemency application to support a commutation of this case." Menendez Brothers Discuss 'Bullying And Trauma' In Prison In Rare Public Remarks, New Podcast Interview The brothers were each convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 20, 1989 killing of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, and were sentenced to life in prison. A recent California law made re-sentencing hearings a possibility, and aside from the June parole board hearing, the brothers are scheduled for a March 20 and 21 re-sentencing hearing. Before that, the brothers had exhausted all legal avenues for freedom. The hearing was granted by former District Attorney George Gascon. On Monday, Hochman submitted an 88-page court filing asking a judge to rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing, arguing that the brothers have shown little contrition and are unwilling to take responsibility for the killings. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter "As a full examination of the record reveals, the Menendez brothers have never come clean and admitted that they lied about their self-defense as well as suborned perjury and attempted to suborn perjury by their friends for the lies, among others, of their father violently raping Lyle's girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to get a handgun the day before the murders," Hochman said. The brothers' attorney Mark Geragos attacked Hochman during a Tuesday interview on "Today." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X "This DA had made up his mind," he said. "Mind you, there were 22 family members who signed on, met with the DA's office, told them 'stop re-traumatizing us.' We could tell at that meeting that he had no interest in that." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub "They're not interested in the victims," said Geragos, referring to family members of the Menendez brothers. "They didn't let the victims know that they were going to make this decision." "He is almost serially abusing them with his lies and his litany of lies," he said. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, the brothers claimed that their parents were victims of a mafia hit. When it became clear that they were responsible for the killings, they argued that they acted in self-defense after a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse by their parents. Their first trial, which spanned from 1993 to 1994, ended in a mistrial. They were retried and found guilty in 1996. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom, Hochman and Geragos for comment. Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this article source: California Gov Newsom sets Menendez brothers parole board hearing date in bid for clemency
Fox News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California Gov Newsom sets Menendez brothers parole board hearing date in bid for clemency
On his new podcast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that the Menendez brothers will have parole board hearings in mid-June for the governor's office to determine whether they should be granted clemency. While discussing Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's recent opposition to the Menendez brothers' legal battle for re-sentencing, Newsom announced that Lyle and Erik Menendez will go before the California Board of Parole Hearings individually on June 13 and plead for clemency from the governor. The brothers are in prison for killing their parents in 1989. "The DA now, the new DA, is pulling back recommending from the Menendez brothers to be re-sentenced," Newsom said on his "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast. "But it doesn't impact the processes underway, that review for clemency in my office or the independent risk assessment that will be concluded on June 13 by the Board of Parole Hearings. And I'll repeat that, on June 13, both Lyle and Eric Menendez independently will have their final hearing." Newsom explained that after the parole board hearing, a report will be submitted to his office for consideration in deciding whether he should commute the brothers' sentences. "A report then will be submitted to me on the 13th of June for consideration," Newsom said. "We will submit that report to the judge for the re-sentencing, and that will weigh into our independent analysis of whether or not to move forward with the clemency application to support a commutation of this case." The brothers were each convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 20, 1989 killing of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, and were sentenced to life in prison. A recent California law made re-sentencing hearings a possibility, and aside from the June parole board hearing, the brothers are scheduled for a March 20 and 21 re-sentencing hearing. Before that, the brothers had exhausted all legal avenues for freedom. The hearing was granted by former District Attorney George Gascon. On Monday, Hochman submitted an 88-page court filing asking a judge to rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing, arguing that the brothers have shown little contrition and are unwilling to take responsibility for the killings. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER "As a full examination of the record reveals, the Menendez brothers have never come clean and admitted that they lied about their self-defense as well as suborned perjury and attempted to suborn perjury by their friends for the lies, among others, of their father violently raping Lyle's girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to get a handgun the day before the murders," Hochman said. The brothers' attorney Mark Geragos attacked Hochman during a Tuesday interview on "Today." "This DA had made up his mind," he said. "Mind you, there were 22 family members who signed on, met with the DA's office, told them 'stop re-traumatizing us.' We could tell at that meeting that he had no interest in that." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB "They're not interested in the victims," said Geragos, referring to family members of the Menendez brothers. "They didn't let the victims know that they were going to make this decision." "He is almost serially abusing them with his lies and his litany of lies," he said. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, the brothers claimed that their parents were victims of a mafia hit. When it became clear that they were responsible for the killings, they argued that they acted in self-defense after a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse by their parents. Their first trial, which spanned from 1993 to 1994, ended in a mistrial. They were retried and found guilty in 1996. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom, Hochman and Geragos for comment.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
DA: Sex offender denied parole for 3 years
The California Board of Parole Hearings denied release to a convicted sex offender for three years, the Kern County District Attorney's Office said Monday. Leon Romine, 73, was found to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety during a Feb. 4 hearing, the DA's office said in Monday's news release, adding that commissioners focused on his current physical condition and a recent psychological evaluation rating him a high moderate risk of reoffense. The DA's office asked the board to keep Romine in prison, where he has served nearly 22 years for his latest conviction. Law enforcement went to Romine's residence on Roberts Lane in Bakersfield on Jan. 25, 2003, to check if he had complied with his duty to register as a sex offender. Officers found he had not registered his correct address since July 1997, the news release said. A Kern County jury found him guilty on April 9, 2003, of failing to register as a sex offender. The court also found he had two prior strike sex convictions, one in 1984 for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and the second in 1990 for rape by means of force or fear. Romine was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under the Three Strikes Law.
