Terry Baralt, Menendez Brothers’ Aunt, Hospitalized After Graphic Photos Shown in Court.
“She might not make it,” family says after court hearing leaves 85-year-old aunt unresponsive.
The Menendez brothers’ courtroom fight has taken a deeply personal and heartbreaking turn.
Their aunt, Terry Baralt, is now in critical condition at a hospital in New Jersey after collapsing late last week, just hours after graphic photos of José Menendez’s body were shown in court without notice.
Terry Baralt, 85, is the sister of José Menendez and has been a vocal supporter of her nephews Erik and Lyle in their ongoing push for resentencing. According to a statement from the Menendez family, she was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital not long after viewing the hearing remotely.
“There was no warning. No humanity. Just pain,” the family said.
“Terry may not recover from what was done to her in that courtroom.”
“They knew what they were doing”
The family is placing full responsibility on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, saying prosecutors made a conscious choice to show the graphic images without telling anyone ahead of time.
They believe the move not only violated Marsy’s Law, which is meant to protect the rights and emotional wellbeing of victims’ families, but also crossed a line that can’t be undone.
“We’ve already lived through the worst pain imaginable. What happened in that courtroom brought it all back and made it worse,” the family said.
They also accused DA Nathan Hochman of treating them with open disrespect, saying he’s spoken to them with "aggression and disdain" throughout the case.
“They’ve paid. People need to believe that.”
Terry Baralt’s collapse came just days after she spoke publicly for the first time in support of her nephews.
In a quiet, emotional interview with ABC News’ Matt Gutman, Baralt shared her perspective as both a grieving sister and a woman who has watched her nephews spend over three decades in prison.
“It was a crazy time for those kids… What they did was wrong, but they’re sorry now. They’ve paid 35 years. Believe me, you pay.”” she said.
Her words, meant to show compassion and understanding, aired just before the hearing that may now leave her fighting for her life.
DA responds with regret, not apology
Late Sunday, the District Attorney’s Office released a statement acknowledging that the photos might have caused distress but stopped short of taking full responsibility.
“We understand the evidence was emotional... and we apologize for not warning the family beforehand,” the office said.
“These hearings are meant to show the full truth no matter how painful.”
They added that going forward, they plan to handle the case with “dignity and respect.”
Resentencing Hearings Resume This Week
The latest developments come as Erik and Lyle Menendez continue their fight for a reduced sentence, more than 35 years after the infamous 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home.
The brothers, who were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life without parole, have maintained that they acted after years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father a claim that has resurfaced in public discourse amid recent documentaries and legal challenges.
Terry Baralt had become a key figure in their latest bid for resentencing, offering heartfelt public support and urging the court to recognize how much the brothers have changed during their decades behind bars.
The next court dates are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, where the resentencing hearing is expected to continue with additional witness testimony and further examination of the case’s original circumstances.
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