Latest news with #ErikMenendezStory
Elle
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Nicholas Alexander Chavez Talks 'Monsters' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
Justin French Jacket, shirt, tie, pants, belt, Gucci. Five years ago, the pandemic was in its early stages, and with acting jobs drying up in Los Angeles, Nicholas Alexander Chavez found himself selling cars and doing door-to-door insurance sales in Florida. Four years later, he looked out onto Los Angeles's Sunset Boulevard to see three enormous billboards for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story , the Ryan Murphy and Netflix series he was starring in. Before the turn of events that led to his role as Lyle, the now 25-year-old Chavez says he had been grappling with the idea that his life was not how he thought it would be. Something, he acknowledges, a lot of people experienced during COVID. He had acted in school drama productions like To Kill a Mockingbird , and the positive response had pushed him to consider it as a career. That, coupled with a love of Shakespeare, led him to Rutgers University, where he studied drama for two years, before moving to L.A. to pursue acting full time. Justin French Coat, track jacket, track pants, loafers, Ferragamo. Socks, Falke. Soon after, the pandemic struck, and he moved to Florida. Although he was grateful to have a paycheck, something told him that acting wasn't quite out of the picture just yet. 'I knew that deep down I was an artist, and I was trying to figure out how that could be let out,' he says over a Zoom call, reminiscent of the pandemic past. 'I knew that deep down I was an artist, and I was trying to figure out how that could be let out.' Chavez credits a 'mindset shift,' brought on by advice he received from someone close to him that turned things around. 'I realized that whatever you're doing, you should just give it 100 percent, because you're there anyway,' he says. He started showing up to work with the idea that he wanted to 'be the best at selling cars today' so he could 'be the best actor tomorrow.' Before long, he had auditioned for and booked General Hospital , the long-running soap opera for which he won a Daytime Emmy, and the roles have kept coming ever since. Justin French Jacket, shirt, tie, pants, belt, Gucci. The two and a half years he spent on General Hospital proved pivotal to his future success. The grueling schedule, something he likens to 'exposure therapy,' instilled in him the work ethic needed in a demanding industry. He remembers at one point having to learn '80 pages of dialogue in a single day.' But those lessons would help him hold his own when he played alongside Chloë Sevigny and Javier Bardem in Monsters , and later when he starred opposite Niecy Nash in another Murphy production, the horror/drama Grotesquerie . He calls Murphy 'one of the most prolific television creators alive today'—and when asked if he'd be open if the producer were to come calling a third time, his answer is 'of course.' But he's also intrigued by 'the dark comedy space' and would like to star in a historical drama, saying there are 'so many interesting people who I'm personally fascinated with, and I'd love to tell their stories at some point in my career.' Justin French Coat, track jacket, track pants, loafers, Ferragamo. Socks, Falke. Right now, Chavez is gearing up for the July release of I Know What You Did Last Summer , the latest sequel to the 1997 iconic horror film of the same name. The production, which he promises packs a lot of 'shock factor,' features a large ensemble (including fellow ELLE Hollywood Rising member, Sarah Pidgeon) and sees the return of two of the franchise's original stars, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Justin French Jacket, shirt, tie, pants, belt, Gucci. For someone who feels happiest when he's working, becoming an actor wasn't something Chavez always saw for himself. As a child, he loved to pretend to be a priest. He would perform for his family, complete with bread and cranberry juice. And while he didn't necessarily take inspiration from his youth when he played Father Charlie Mayhew in Grotesquerie , he did say, 'Little me would be so proud if only he knew.' Reflecting on his time in Florida selling cars, he has no regrets: 'The universe just takes you on the journey that you need to go on,' he says. 'It was a weird journey that I didn't expect, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.' Hair by Sami Knight for Rehab; makeup by Alexandra French at Forward Artists; manicure by Jolene Brodeur at The Wall Group; produced by Anthony Federici at Petty Cash Production; photographed at Malibu Creek Ranch. A version of this story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of ELLE Related Stories
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Menendez Brothers Have Murder Sentence Reduced & Are Now Eligible For Parole
Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have served roughly 35 years of a life-without-parole prison sentence for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in Beverly Hills, were re-sentenced today to 50 years to life, immediately making them eligible for parole. The decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic does not automatically mean the pair will be released from prison. They will have to appear before a parole board, which will recommend whether they should be available for parole. The recommendation would then go to Gov. Gavin Newsom,who could reject their release. More from Deadline Menendez Brothers' Attorney Seeks Lesser Voluntary Manslaughter Sentence As Hearing Begins Menendez Brothers Suddenly Withdraw Move To Toss L.A. DA Off Case; Resentencing Hearings Set For Next Week Menendez Brothers Resentencing: L.A. DA & Family's Lawyer Butt Heads Over Recusal Move & Media Hits A Week Ahead Of Pivotal Hearing Earlier today, relatives of the Menendez brothers testified on why they believed they should be released from prison, with their attorney Mark Geragos fighting for a reduced sentence of voluntary manslaughter. 'What we are pushing for, under the statute, is a recall of the sentence, a resentence that is meaningful modification,' he said. The Menendez brothers' case resurfaced following the release of the Netflix series created by Ryan Murphy, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Kim Kardashian, who has a working relationship with Murphy, was one of several high-profile personalities who made a call to have their life sentences reduced. After spending time with the brothers, the reality TV personality and criminal justice advocate penned an essay for NBC News where she made the case for them. 'We are all products of our experiences. They shape who we were, who we are, and who we will be. Physiologically and psychologically, time changes us, and I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18. I know I'm not!' Kardashian writes in a personal essay. She continued, 'You think you know the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez. I certainly thought I did: In 1989, the brothers, aged 21 and 18, respectively, viciously shot and killed their parents in their Beverly Hills home. In 1996, after two trials, they were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As is often the case, this story is much more complex than it appears on the surface. Both brothers said they had been sexually, physically and emotionally abused for years by their parents.' Kardashian noted that after the first trial was televised, the Menendez brothers were 'ridiculed in skits on Saturday Night Live' and 'the media turned the brothers into monsters and sensationalized eye candy,' which made them have 'no chance of a fair trial.' CNS contributed to this report. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025
Global News
13-05-2025
- Global News
Menendez brothers: L.A. judge to decide if Erik and Lyle should be freed
After months of delays, a hearing started Tuesday to decide whether Erik and Lyle Menendez should get a chance at freedom after serving nearly 30 years in prison for the double murder of their parents. A Los Angeles judge is presiding over the resentencing hearing that is expected to last two days. If he shortens their sentences, the brothers would still need approval from the state's parole board to get out of prison. They could then potentially go free on time served. View image in full screen This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. California Dept. of Corrections via AP, File They were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings. While defence lawyers argued the brothers acted out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. Story continues below advertisement Due to wildfires in the LA area and disputes between LA prosecutors and defence lawyers, the hearings were delayed for months. The case has captured the public's attention for decades — and last year, the Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and documentary The Menendez Brothers brought new attention to the case. Supporters of the brothers have flown in from across the country to attend rallies and hearings in the past few months. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Hearing begins with testimony from a family member The judge kicked off the hearing with a reminder to the packed courtroom that prosecutors must prove that the brothers are at an 'unreasonable risk' of committing serious and violent crimes if they are released. The defence began by calling Ana Maria Baralt, a cousin of Erik and Lyle, who testified that the brothers have repeatedly expressed remorse for their actions. 'We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough,' Baralt said. 'They are universally forgiven by our family.' Story continues below advertisement Judge to rule on a lesser sentence The resentencing hearing will centre on whether the brothers have been rehabilitated in prison and deserve a lesser sentence of 50 years to life. That would make them eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. Their defence lawyer, Mark Geragos, said in April he may ask the judge to reduce their charges to manslaughter, potentially allowing them to be immediately released. View image in full screen FILE – Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing, on December 29, 1992 in Los Angeles after the two pleaded innocent in the August 1989 shotgun deaths of their wealthy parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, Calif. Vince Bucci / AFP via Getty Images Geragos said last Friday that he plans to call at least seven family members to testify at the hearings. As in previous proceedings, the brothers will appear virtually. It was unclear if they will testify. Los Angeles County prosecutors will be arguing against the resentencing. They say the brothers have not taken complete responsibility for the crime. Prosecutors will likely reference the preliminary findings from a forensic psychologist who looked at whether the brothers pose a risk to society if released, an assessment ordered by the state parole board. The admissibility of the results in court have been a point of contention for the two sides, as they have not been made public, but the judge said last Friday that some parts can be included. Story continues below advertisement Former district attorney and family support resentencing The previous LA County District Attorney, George Gascón, had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. His office said the case would've been handled differently today due to modern understandings of sexual abuse and trauma, and the brothers' rehabilitation over three decades in prison. A resentencing petition laid out by Gascón focuses on the brothers' accomplishments and rehabilitation. The brothers' lawyers say their clients have worked hard to better themselves and give back to the prison community. The extended Menendez family, with the exception of an uncle who died in March, has said they fully forgive the brothers for what they did and want them to be freed. Since their conviction, the brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates. Story continues below advertisement The new LA prosecutor changed course The current district attorney, Nathan Hochman, reversed course from Gascón and opposed the brothers' resentencing. Hochman's office has said it does not believe that the brothers were sexually abused by their father. Prosecutors also say the brothers have not admitted to lying during their trial. Outside the courthouse Tuesday morning, Hochman said he believes the brothers are not ready for resentencing because 'they have not come clean' about their crimes. 'Our position is not 'no,' it's not 'never,' it's 'not yet,'' Hochman said. 'They have not fully accepted responsibility for all their criminal conduct.' Recently, prosecutors cited the forensic psychologist's analysis that said the brothers had recently broken prison rules by smuggling cellphones inside, which Hochman argued demonstrated an inability to regulate their own behavior. It came to the conclusion that they were 'moderately more likely' than others to engage in violence in the community, Hochman said. With Hochman in charge, prosecutors attempted twice to withdraw their office's resentencing petition. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic ruled both times that the resentencing hearings could continue despite their opposition. The judge could decide on the resentencing from the bench during the hearing or issue a written ruling later.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
The Menendez brothers, currently serving life in prison, are set to be resentenced this week
Resentencing hearings will resume later this week for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have spent 35 years in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents. Last week, a Los Angeles judge ruled that resentencing could go forward for the notorious brothers, who are currently serving life sentences without parole for the killings. A former prosecutor had recommended resentencing, which could make them immediately eligible for parole. The hearings, which will take place in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys, Calif., are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with shotguns at their Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989. They initially denied the killings, telling police they suspected the slayings were related to Jose Menendez's work as an entertainment executive. They were arrested in March 1990. At trial three years later, the brothers testified they committed the murders in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father and of which their mother was aware. Prosecutors argued that their motive for the killings was a multimillion-dollar inheritance. They were tried twice. A mistrial was declared in 1994 due to a hung jury. In 1996, Erik and Lyle were convicted on first-degree murder charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many details of the alleged sexual abuse they suffered were not permitted during the retrial. In 1998, a California appeals court upheld their convictions. Subsequent appeals to the higher courts were also denied. The case was thrust back into the public eye last year thanks to the hit Netflix drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Last fall, then-Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recommended that the brothers be resentenced, saying, 'I believe they have paid their debt to society." Gascón said he believed that Erik and Lyle, who are now 54 and 57 years old respectively, had rehabilitated themselves while in jail, earning advanced degrees, participating in self-help classes and creating various support groups for their fellow inmates. Gascón also said his office was reviewing new evidence that their attorneys said corroborates the allegations of sexual abuse. He recommended that their sentence be reduced from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were younger than 26 when they committed the killings. (Erik was 18; Lyle was 21.) But Gascón's successor, Nathan Hochman, opposed resentencing, saying that the brothers had failed to take 'complete responsibility' for the double murder, including their initial claim that they did not kill their parents. "These murders were calculated, premeditated, cold-blooded killings," Hochman said in a statement. "Our position remains clear: Until the Menendez brothers finally come clean with all their lies of self-defense and suborning and attempting to suborn perjury, they are not rehabilitated and pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety." At a hearing in court on April 11, prosecutors repeatedly showed graphic images — including a bloody crime scene photo of Jose Menendez's body — while arguing against resentencing. Family members who were in court said they were shocked and appalled by the display. Terry Baralt, Erik and Lyle Menendez's 85-year-old aunt and Jose Menendez's sister, had traveled to California from her home in New Jersey for the hearing. Baralt, who is being treated for colon cancer, was found unresponsive in her hotel room on Sunday morning. She was hospitalized in critical condition, the family said in a statement. The family later filed a complaint accusing the L.A. District Attorney's Office of violating Marsy's Law, which is designed to protect the families of crime victims. They allege that prosecutors needlessly showed the crime scene images without warning the family members in the courtroom. 'A grotesque spectacle occurred last Friday in this Court,' attorneys representing 20 members of the Menendez family said in a Tuesday filing. 'This Court should ensure such a mockery never occurs again.' The DA's office apologized "for not giving prior warning" before showing the images, saying in a statement Sunday that it never intended to 'cause distress or pain to individuals who attend a court hearing." Hochman said he doesn't plan on showing any of the gruesome images during this week's resentencing, but defended displaying them. "We wanted to make the judge understand that it starts with the brutal, Mafia-staged hit of both Kitty and Jose Menendez," Hochman said. If the Menendez brothers are not granted parole through resentencing, they may still be eligible for release through their bid for clemency. In February, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a state parole board to perform a risk assessment to determine if the brothers continue to pose a risk to public safety. The board's assessment is expected to be completed following a final meeting with each brother on June 13. A clemency hearing is expected to follow.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
The Menendez brothers, currently serving life in prison, are set to be resentenced this week
Resentencing hearings will resume later this week for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have spent 35 years in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents. Last week, a Los Angeles judge ruled that resentencing could go forward for the notorious brothers, who are currently serving life sentences without parole for the killings. A former prosecutor had recommended resentencing, which could make them immediately eligible for parole. The hearings, which will take place in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys, Calif., are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with shotguns at their Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989. They initially denied the killings, telling police they suspected the slayings were related to Jose Menendez's work as an entertainment executive. They were arrested in March 1990. At trial three years later, the brothers testified they committed the murders in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father and of which their mother was aware. Prosecutors argued that their motive for the killings was a multimillion-dollar inheritance. They were tried twice. A mistrial was declared in 1994 due to a hung jury. In 1996, Erik and Lyle were convicted on first-degree murder charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many details of the alleged sexual abuse they suffered were not permitted during the retrial. In 1998, a California appeals court upheld their convictions. Subsequent appeals to the higher courts were also denied. The case was thrust back into the public eye last year thanks to the hit Netflix drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Last fall, then-Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recommended that the brothers be resentenced, saying, 'I believe they have paid their debt to society." Gascón said he believed that Erik and Lyle, who are now 54 and 57 years old respectively, had rehabilitated themselves while in jail, earning advanced degrees, participating in self-help classes and creating various support groups for their fellow inmates. Gascón also said his office was reviewing new evidence that their attorneys said corroborates the allegations of sexual abuse. He recommended that their sentence be reduced from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were younger than 26 when they committed the killings. (Erik was 18; Lyle was 21.) But Gascón's successor, Nathan Hochman, opposed resentencing, saying that the brothers had failed to take 'complete responsibility' for the double murder, including their initial claim that they did not kill their parents. "These murders were calculated, premeditated, cold-blooded killings," Hochman said in a statement. "Our position remains clear: Until the Menendez brothers finally come clean with all their lies of self-defense and suborning and attempting to suborn perjury, they are not rehabilitated and pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety." At a hearing in court on April 11, prosecutors repeatedly showed graphic images — including a bloody crime scene photo of Jose Menendez's body — while arguing against resentencing. Family members who were in court said they were shocked and appalled by the display. Terry Baralt, Erik and Lyle Menendez's 85-year-old aunt and Jose Menendez's sister, had traveled to California from her home in New Jersey for the hearing. Baralt, who is being treated for colon cancer, was found unresponsive in her hotel room on Sunday morning. She was hospitalized in critical condition, the family said in a statement. The family later filed a complaint accusing the L.A. District Attorney's Office of violating Marsy's Law, which is designed to protect the families of crime victims. They allege that prosecutors needlessly showed the crime scene images without warning the family members in the courtroom. 'A grotesque spectacle occurred last Friday in this Court,' attorneys representing 20 members of the Menendez family said in a Tuesday filing. 'This Court should ensure such a mockery never occurs again.' The DA's office apologized "for not giving prior warning" before showing the images, saying in a statement Sunday that it never intended to 'cause distress or pain to individuals who attend a court hearing." Hochman said he doesn't plan on showing any of the gruesome images during this week's resentencing, but defended displaying them. "We wanted to make the judge understand that it starts with the brutal, Mafia-staged hit of both Kitty and Jose Menendez," Hochman said. If the Menendez brothers are not granted parole through resentencing, they may still be eligible for release through their bid for clemency. In February, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a state parole board to perform a risk assessment to determine if the brothers continue to pose a risk to public safety. The board's assessment is expected to be completed following a final meeting with each brother on June 13. A clemency hearing is expected to follow.
