Terry Baralt, the aunt of Lyle and Erik Menendez, has reportedly been discovered unresponsive in a hotel room, marking a distressing chapter in her ongoing battle to support her nephews. The 85-year-old, who is bravely fighting colon cancer, is said to be feeling exhausted, stressed, and traumatized as her family continues to fight for the release of the two brothers from prison.
According to reports from TMZ, Terry was taken to the hospital after being found unresponsive in her hotel room in Los Angeles. This incident comes just days after the Menendez brothers appeared in court for a resentencing hearing, during which prosecutors displayed graphic crime scene photos from the double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
During the resentencing hearing, the brothers' attorney, Mark Geragos, characterized the prosecutors' actions as a "dog-and-pony show," arguing that their intent was merely to litigate the original murder case rather than focus on the current proceedings. The Menendez brothers, currently incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County, have faced significant challenges in their legal journey, compounded by the physical distance and Terry’s age.
As José Menendez’s only living sister, Terry expressed her deep emotional connection to her nephews during an interview with ABC News. For the first time in 35 years, she spoke candidly about her feelings, stating, "They are like the boys that I didn't have. It's time - 35 years is a long time. It's a whole branch of my family erased." She poignantly shared her struggles to visit them regularly, emphasizing, "I don't have that much time."
Terry, who serves as Lyle's godmother, previously articulated her feelings in a statement read by her daughter at a press conference in October. She lamented, "35 years is such a long time. My prayer is that I live long enough to see my nephews again and hug them once more." Her sentiments reflect the ongoing emotional turmoil faced by the Menendez family as they navigate this complex situation.
Additionally, Joan Andersen Vandermolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, made an emotional speech at a recent rally, revealing her struggles to comprehend the tragic events surrounding her sister's family. She acknowledged that as more details about Lyle and Erik's abuse surfaced, it became evident that their actions were a desperate response to years of severe cruelty from their father. "Looking back, I can see the intention…they were just children who could have been protected but were instead brutalized in the most horrific ways," she stated.
Lyle and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at ages 18 and 21 after being convicted of murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. While their defense team argued that the brothers acted in self-defense due to years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors contended that the murders were motivated by the prospect of a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The case has captivated public attention for decades, with recent media portrayals, including the Netflix drama 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' and the upcoming documentary 'The Menendez Brothers', set to release in the fall of 2024, reigniting interest in the narrative. Supporters of the Menendez brothers have traveled from across the nation to attend rallies and hearings in their favor.
Former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón had previously sought to modify the brothers' sentences from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, which would have made them eligible for parole due to their age at the time of the crime. However, his successor, Nathan Hochman, reversed this motion last month, leading to further complications in the legal proceedings.
During a recent hearing, Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian stated that the prosecution could not support a resentencing request, as the brothers had not taken full responsibility for their actions nor admitted to the falsehoods presented during their trial. "They are the same people they were," Balian argued. This perspective was supported by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, who deemed the prosecutor's argument valid for the resentencing hearing.
While Lyle and Erik appeared in court via Zoom, they did not make any public statements. Their attorney remains hopeful for justice, noting, "They've waited a long time to get some justice." Following a judge's decision to deny the motion from the District Attorney to withdraw the resentencing petition, another hearing has been scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, April 16 and 17.
The Mirror US has reached out to attorney Mark Geragos for further comments regarding this ongoing situation.
