Erik Menendez has been hospitalized due to Kidney Stones, and as a result could see himself not returning to prison for a while due to a medical furlough

Erik Menendez is currently hospitalized with kidney stones, just one month prior to his oft-delayed parole hearing that could see him and his brother, Lyle Menendez, freed for the first time since being convicted for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

The younger of the two brothers, who have been serving 50 years to life sentences for the 1989 crime, was rushed to the hospital on Friday due to a medical condition.

The hospitalization comes after the two have been imprisoned since 1996, after their initial convictions, which saw them sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parol, before being resentenced. Calls have grown over the years for their release as new questions have been raised about their motive for the murders, following claims of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, which led to their resentencing hearing and the new parole hearing.

According to TMZ, Erik, now 54, was hospitalized initially for what his attorney, Mark Geragos, referred to as a "serious medical condition."

The site has since confirmed that the condition is kidney stones.

Though he is currently reported to be in fair condition, the news could lead to a major break for him when it comes to his prison sentence.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is reportedly now looking into whether a "prison furlough" is appropriate in the case. It's unclear if it would only be until the stones passed, or if Newsom would cut him a break due to his upcoming parole hearing.

If Newsom does cut him a break, it could mean he would not have to return to prison pending the parole board's review.

The hearing is set for August 22, and Newsom is said to be sympathetic to granting the two clemency in their case.

Furor for the brothers to be released reached a new high after the release of the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, was released in 2024.

The episodes cast new sympathy onto the two, as it detailed their allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their parents for years.

The two were arrested in 1990 for the murders, and were each later charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for lying in wait, which made them eligible for the death penalty.

Though initially declared to have mistrials, a second trial was brought against them, leading to life imprisonment without parole sentences in 1996. They were resentenced to 50 years to life, with eligibility for parole, in May 2025.

The brothers were initially going to receive a parole hearing on June 13, though it was later postponed to August 21 and 22.

An explanation for the postponment was not provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the time.