A 30-year-old trading card reportedly skyrocketed in value recently after two convicted killers were spotted in the background: the Menendez brothers.
The card is a 1994 Upper Deck Rare Air No. 89 that features basketball legend Michael Jordan, according to cllct.com. It also appears to show Lyle and Erik Menendez sitting in a pair of courtside seats.
The photo featured on the card was taken at a Bulls-Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in New York, cllct.com noted, adding that a French collector “noticed the Menendez brothers sitting courtside in the bottom right corner of the card.”
Sports Illustrated reported it is “similar to the 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson card with the two brothers photographed watching the game.”
The news comes less than a week after Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed its motion to request resentencing the brothers, citing good behavior for nearly four decades, which might eventually lead to their release from prison.
In 1996, after two trials in 1993 and 1995, the Menendez brothers were convicted by a jury of first-degree murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the murders of their father and mother, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Armed with shotguns, the brothers shot and killed their parents at close range in their Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989.
Now, their petition for resentencing will be reviewed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. Their fate could potentially be decided within the next few months.
The filing noted the brothers have each shown “exceptional post-conviction conduct, a critical factor, in assessing their suitability for release.” It also noted they have demonstrated “they no longer present a public safety … such that their current sentence is no longer in furtherance of justice.”
Prosecutors went on to say Lyle, 56, and Erik, 53, who were 21 and 18, respectively, at the time of the murders, should receive a new sentence of 50 years to life. Because they were under 26 years old at the time of the crimes, they would be eligible for parole immediately under a California law that went into effect in 2018.
“Given their age, their risk of committing a new, violent felony while serving sentence of 50 to life is extremely low. Their respective ages, therefore, weighs in favor of resentencing here,” the documents noted.
Throughout decades of incarceration, the brothers received a combined total of 13 violations, according to the documents. Lyle Menendez received five rule violations, while Erik received eight infractions.
For Lyle, violations mostly involved phones, as he was cited for sharing a cell phone with other inmates, as well as “using the phone when he shouldn’t have.” Other violations were for possession of a lighter, receiving contraband (a visitor gifted him Adidas shoes), and refusing to follow an order.
Erik was cited for possession of a cell phone, fighting, “excessive physical contact” with a female visitor, unauthorized possession of a controlled medication, possession of tobacco/refusal to provide a urine sample, battery, and disobeying an order.
So far, Lyle Menendez has not been in any fights during his term, the filing noted.
“In 1997 he had to be moved from General Population to the Special Needs yard because he wouldn’t fight back when attacked,” according to the document.
Prosecutors also pointed to both brothers’ educational achievements, as both have attained several degrees. They each made contributions to the community, such as a GreenSpace prison beautification program started by Lyle Menendez, and a Twelve Step Recovery and Meditation class co-founded by Erik Menendez. Both brothers also received low-risk assessment scores.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said the trial would have been treated differently with today’s understanding of how sexual and physical abuse affects children. The brothers have the strong support of most of their family, who say they were victims that were vilified.
“If their trial happened today, the outcome would be drastically different,” Joan VanderMolen, who is Kitty’s sister, previously said of her nephews.
“The whole world was not ready to hear that boys could be raped,” she added.
In a post on X, Erik’s wife, Tammi, said the day of the resentencing announcement was “difficult and emotional.” She also said she’s “disappointed”Gascón “did not go further and act on his own belief that Erik and Lyle have served enough time in prison.”
__________
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
