Convicted of brutally killing their parents in a case that captivated the nation more than three decades ago, Erik and Lyle Menendez are hoping to have a new shot at freedom.
The brothers have been serving life sentences in the 1989 shooting deaths of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills. At the time, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18.
Prosecutors argued that the brothers murdered their parents to get their hands on the family's multi-million dollar fortune. The brothers, however, claimed self-defense, saying they snapped after years of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse from their parents.
The brothers, now 56 and 53, were initially tried separately and both ended with deadlocked juries -- mistrials. On retrial, the brothers were tried together by a single jury and were ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 1996.
Both brothers have filed appeal petitions over the years, but all have been denied. Now, there's another chance.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office is currently considering an appeal for freedom that was filed last May. Defense attorneys say new evidence bolsters the brothers' allegations of abuse.
Erik Menendez's daughter, Talia, has been posting updates about the case on her Instagram account. On Sunday, she said the brothers will receive a decision on their appeal within the next 60 days.
"As everyone knows, there was new evidence proving the abuse endured after decades of not being believed and that evidence had been excluded from the retrial," she wrote on her stories.
"I'm praying the DA / judge has compassion not only for what my dad and uncle endured but also the fact that all of us family wants them home," she added. "Almost 35 years is enough time locked away. They have spent more time incarcerated than alive in the real world. Let that sink in. Set them free!"
In another story, Talia clarified the decision the district attorney could ultimately take.
"Option 1) Time served & they would prepare for release Option 2) 3-5 years more Option 3) Immediately go to the parole board › not a great option & case will become political Option 4) No change. LWOP sentence still stands," she wrote. "Praying they get time served for 35 years and are released!"
The appeal is gaining momentum in light of the new Netflix series "Monsters," described as a "riveting true-crime drama [that] probes the lives of the Menendez brothers."