The Menendez brothers could potentially be released after more than 30 years behind bars, as their case is being reconsidered for resentencing by the Los Angeles County District Attorney due to the discovery of significant new evidence.

On August 20, 1989, Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, fatally shot their parents in their Beverly Hills home. Their father, Jose Menendez, was a 45-year-old entertainment executive, and their mother, Kitty Menendez, was 47. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 after two trials, with their first trial ending in a mistrial.

The case garnered national attention, with disbelief surrounding the brothers’ brutal actions. While it was always clear they had killed their parents, the reasons behind the murders have sparked intense debate.

During the first trial, defense attorney Leslie Abramson argued that Lyle and Erik acted in self-defense, claiming they had endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father and feared their parents would kill them if they revealed the abuse.

A new legal filing has now surfaced, presenting additional distressing details of the alleged abuse. Attorneys for the brothers have cited a letter Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin in which he described the alleged abuse by his father. This evidence is now part of the case review, which could potentially lead to the brothers’ resentencing.