Monsters' Cooper Koch Is 'Overwhelmed with Gratitude' After Menendez Brothers Resentencing: 'Hope to See Erik and Lyle Soon'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cooper Koch.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Cooper Kochhopes he’ll get to seeErikandLyle Menendezsoon — and that this time, they’ll be free.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on Oct. 24 that he recommends the brothers, who areserving life sentences for the 1990 murdersof their parents Jose and Kitty,be resentencedas they “have paid their debt to society.”

In response, Koch, 28, who starred as Erik inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, wrote in a statement via his twin brother Payton’s Instagram Stories, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude and hope for the progress we’ve seen today. Gascón’s recommendation has ignited a renewed sense of possibility that Lyle and Erik could finally be released after decades behind bars.”

Cooper Koch’s message on the Mendendez Brothers.Payton Koch/Instagram

Payton Koch/Instagram

Cooper noted, though, that the “journey is not over” for the brothers.

“There are still critical steps ahead: the judge must endorse the resentencing, and, if that happens, the parole board must recognize the time they have served as fitting for the crime,” Cooper continued. “Our voices, our unwavering support, remain crucial — not just for the brothers to ensure their release, but also for every victim of sexual abuse fighting to be heard.”

Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez, Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson in ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’.Miles Crist/Netflix

Miles Crist/Netflix

Cooper has been outspoken about his support of the brothers getting out of prison since the premiere of the Netflix series last month. He evenpaid a visit to Erik and Lyle at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San DiegowithKim Kardashian, and he told PEOPLE “there was an immediate connection” between them.

“I got to hug both of them, and I sat next to Erik in this circle with all the other incarcerated individuals who were telling their stories, and they both were so kind. They’re amazing people,” he said.

He also touched on the criticism the brothers had about theRyan Murphyseries — whichErik described as “disheartening slander"in a statement after the show’s premiere.

“I get it. I understand that he would feel that way. This is really tough stuff. This is his life, and his life has a lot of trauma. It’s a tragedy. And he’s still in prison, so I understand how difficult it would be. I stand with him.”

Brad Culver as Gerald Chaleff, Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez, Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in ‘Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story’.Miles Crist/Netflix

Cooper’s costarNicholas Alexander Chavez, who played Lyle inMonsters, shared a similar sentiment with PEOPLE.

“I really sympathize with the brothers, the fact that this was the most traumatic moment of their life, and then having that put on television for the world to see,” Chavez, 26, said at theGrotesqueriepremiere in New York City. “I would imagine that would be incredibly heavy.”

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Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storycan be streamed in full on Netflix.

source: people.com