In a plot twist no one saw coming—except maybe anyone who’s ever watched a true crime docuseries—Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan just cracked open a legal time capsule from 1996 and asked the DA’s office a bold question: “You sure about that conviction?”
Apparently, the answer might soon be “Eh… maybe not?”
BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME… WITH A PEN PAL
The new evidence in question includes a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano, written before the infamous double-murder, where Erik allegedly spilled the traumatic tea about their father, José Menendez. The contents suggest the abuse defense might not have been courtroom theatrics after all—but, you know, actual evidence that got ignored like an unpaid parking ticket.
Meanwhile, Roy Rosselló—yes, the same one from the boy band Menudo—has popped up with a declaration that he too was abused by José Menendez back in the 80s. Because if there’s anything this case was missing, it was a boy band crossover episode.
JUDGE RYAN: CHANNELING HIS INNER LAW & ORDER
Instead of giving a subtle eye roll and moving on, Judge Ryan essentially said: “Okay, this is kind of a big deal. DA, explain why we shouldn’t throw this entire case out like it’s expired milk.”
The kicker? If the DA can’t convincingly refute this new evidence, the brothers could be released without even seeing a parole board. That’s right—no teary hearings, no last-minute Hail Marys, no overly dramatic HBO reenactments. Just a swift legal “my bad” and a couple of well-dressed middle-aged men walking free into the Southern California sun.
LEGAL DRAMA, 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Let’s recap for those who fell asleep during the first trial:
- The Menendez brothers killed their parents in 1989.
- They claimed it was self-defense, citing years of sexual abuse.
- The court, in classic 90s fashion, said: “Trauma? Never heard of her.”
- They got life without parole.
- The country got two decades of documentaries, memes, and a small army of TikTok legal experts.
- Then came the resentencing to 50-to-life, offering the possibility of parole.
- Now, here we are—potential total conviction reversal on the table.
Somewhere, a law school professor is adding five extra pages to their syllabus.
THE DA’S NEW HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Judge Ryan has given the district attorney 30 days to either:
A) Prove this letter and boy band bombshell are irrelevant,
B) Admit the original trial was about as airtight as a colander, or
C) Curl up in the fetal position and hope nobody remembers they fought to keep this evidence out the first time.
Should they fail to convince the court, the Menendez brothers could walk free. No parole board, no slow-drip appeals, just straight from the prison yard to a People magazine cover story near you.
AND IF THEY DO GET OUT?
What next? A Menendez podcast? A memoir titled “Shots Fired, Trauma Ignored”? A reality show with O.J. Simpson called “Double Trouble: The Redemption Tour”?
The possibilities are endless. But more importantly, the case could force a reckoning with how our legal system has handled (or mishandled) abuse allegations, especially when the accused wears a tie and has a corner office.
So buckle up. The 90s are calling, and this time, they might be right.
And to think—you thought this summer’s drama was all on Love Island.