THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS' TICKET TO FREEDOM

AFTER SPENDING 35 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR MURDERING THEIR PARENTS, ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ ARE ON THE CUSP OF BEING PAROLED

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The courtroom was fraught with emotion. On May 13, paroled prisoner Anerae Brown was brought to tears while telling a Los Angeles judge how Erik and Lyle Menendez convinced him to leave gang life and change his ways. “I went to what I call Menendez University,” Anerae said of being mentored behind bars by the siblings, explaining that without their positive influence, “I might still be sitting there doing stupid things.” Jonathan Colby, a self-described “very prolaw enforcement” retired judge, got to know the brothers while doing prison outreach work. He testified about how they changed his mind about the legitimacy of criminal rehabilitation. Anamaria Baralt, One of three Menendez cousins to speak that day, told the courtroom that even Jose and Kitty's loved ones feel "35 years is enough," declaring Erik and Lyle "are universally forgiven by our family."