Erik Menendez Returns to Prison After Hospitalization and Surgeries for Kidney Stones

Erik Menéndez returned to prison after being temporarily transferred to a San Diego hospital last month for what his lawyer described as a “serious medical condition.”

“My dad is out of the hospital and back at the prison, preparing for our upcoming parole hearing,” Erik’s stepdaughter, Talia Menéndez, shared via Instagram Stories, TMZ reported on Sunday, August 3.

Talia previously shared in late July that Erik, 54, had been admitted to a hospital to treat painful kidney stones. “Today Erik had his second surgery due to complications with both kidneys having multiple large stones,” she wrote via Instagram Stories at the time.

On July 24, Erik’s wife, Tammi Menéndez, said via X that Erik had undergone two surgeries and was expecting a third.

“Today Erik had a 2nd surgery. This surgery was successful. He will need a 3rd surgery which will hopefully happen soon,” Tammi wrote. “Because Erik is in prison there are a lot of complications and delays with surgery. Tonight he remains nauseous and in pain however is recovering from surgery.”

She added, “We thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. Complications happen in surgery but this is a very stressful time for us. Additionally, we are grateful to the CRT custody and medical staff who did their best during this difficult situation.”

On July 22, Erik and his brother Lyle Menéndez’s attorney, Mark Geragos, told TMZ that Erik was experiencing a medical emergency, though he didn’t elaborate further on Erik’s exact condition.

“I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. Erik is having a serious medical condition right now. I am not going to violate HIPAA or attorney client privilege, but if there is anybody that should be furloughed — especially right now a month before the hearing — it is Eric,” Geragos said, pleading with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to release Erik from prison.

“It is a serious condition and I think he needs to be out to focus on the hearing,” he added. “I don’t want to get in the weeds of the medical condition, but I think that is the appropriate thing to do.”

Erik and Lyle, 57, are currently imprisoned at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California, after being convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. The pair were found guilty of first-degree murder in 1996 and were initially sentenced to life in prison without parole.

However, after their case attracted renewed attention, thanks in part to Netflix true-crime drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, the brothers were resentenced in May to 50 years to life, now making them eligible for parole under California’s youth offender law.

Erik and Lyle are due to go before a parole board during a two-day hearing on August 21 and 22.