More than three decades after Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents in their California residence, the brothers are potentially facing a resentencing. Advocates view this as a step towards justice, spurred by the recent surge of media coverage and the public’s growing interest in true crime.

Initially convicted for the 1989 killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez in a retrial following a hung jury, the defense argues that key evidence highlighting the alleged abuse suffered by the brothers was kept from the jury in this second trial.

Following the release of the Netflix documentary “The Menendez Brothers” this month and another dramatization in September, there has been significant public support for the Menendez brothers, who are currently serving life sentences with no chance of parole.

The boom in true crime storytelling—found in documentaries, podcasts, and literature—often reignites public interest in real-world criminal cases, frequently prompting new evaluations and developments in those cases.

Here are four instances where true crime has influenced real-life legal cases:

The Impact of the ‘Serial’ Podcast on Adnan Syed’s Case

Adnan Syed had been imprisoned for over ten years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend when the release of the podcast “Serial” in 2014 changed the landscape of his case. Journalist Sarah Koenig revisited the evidence that led to his conviction and shed light on unresolved aspects of the investigation.

A significant revelation was the potential existence of an alibi witness, who asserted she was with Syed at the time the prosecution claimed the murder occurred. Although the podcast did not exonerate him outright, it sparked a substantial public movement advocating for his release.

In 2022, Syed was released from prison after his conviction was annulled, with the judge citing the prosecution’s failure to disclose crucial exculpatory evidence during the trial over 20 years ago. Prosecutors stated they were dropping the charges after new DNA evidence indicated Syed might be innocent.

However, as of 2024, Syed’s case remains in legal uncertainty. His conviction was reimposed last year due to family members of the victim, Hae Min Lee, claiming their rights were violated when they weren’t allowed to attend the crucial hearing that resulted in Syed’s release.

Though his conviction has been restored, he remains free as he awaits a new hearing.

“Without Sarah Koenig’s intervention and turning this into a national discussion, Adnan Syed would likely still be in prison,” remarked Deirdre Enright, a law professor and co-founder of the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia School of Law, who appeared on the podcast initially. “Like many, he would have been left to fend for himself.”

Robert Durst: A Case ‘Jinxed’ by a Documentary

In a different scenario, a documentary inadvertently led to negative repercussions for Robert Durst, who passed away in 2022. The 2015 series “The Jinx” drew attention to statements that prosecutors claimed were confessions to murdering his best friend in 2000.

At 78 years old, Durst was found guilty of murdering Susan Berman execution-style. Prosecutors argued that he silenced Berman because she was aware of his involvement in the unsolved disappearance of his wife, Kathie, in 1982, for which he was never charged.

In the six-part HBO documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” which premiered in early 2015, Durst was caught on a hot microphone stating he “killed them all,” among other incriminating remarks. Prior to the documentary, he gained notoriety through the 2010 film “All Good Things,” which was based on his life.

Engaging with media had significant ramifications for him, as it escalated public scrutiny and shaped the narrative surrounding his criminal activities.

In a 2015 documentary, Robert Durst spoke out, admitting in court that his actions were a “very, very, very big mistake,” as reported by the Associated Press.

Brandon Dassey and ‘Making a Murderer’

The Netflix documentary series “Making a Murderer” came close to securing the release of Brandon Dassey from his life sentence. In 2007, Dassey was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, corpse mutilation, and second-degree sexual assault in the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, which led to a life sentence. Authorities claimed he assisted his uncle, Steven Avery, who also received a life sentence in a different trial.

Released in late 2015, the series cast doubt on the validity of the confession Dassey made to police as a teenager. Following its debut, there was a surge of support for overturning Dassey’s conviction, with advocates asserting that his confession was coerced and that no forensic evidence connected him to the crime.

As a result of this attention, a federal magistrate overturned Dassey’s conviction, and it seemed he might soon be released. However, a split decision in the appeals court reversed this ruling. In 2018, the Supreme Court opted not to hear his case, thereby maintaining his conviction.

The Menendez Brothers

During their first trial, the Menendez brothers testified about the egregious physical and sexual abuse they allegedly endured from their father. Their defense argued that the young men killed their parents in self-defense, believing, perhaps irrationally, that their parents intended to kill them.

The jury from the initial trial could not reach a verdict, and a retrial included significantly less of the abuse testimony, according to their attorneys and family.

The case was dramatized in the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” followed by a two-hour documentary. This coverage revived interest in a case that had once saturated the news, now propelled by streaming platforms and social media.

Kim Kardashian even wrote an opinion piece advocating for the reconsideration of their sentences. She expressed that a lack of awareness and the widespread stigma surrounding male sexual abuse negatively impacted their chances of a fair trial.

“I’ve spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are decent, intelligent, and sincere individuals,” she mentioned in her NBC News article. “I think a lifelong prison sentence is not a fitting punishment for this complicated situation.”

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that he is contemplating a recommendation for resentencing based on new evidence regarding the purported abuse. He noted a rise in inquiries to his office following the documentary’s release.