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Erik Menendez was denied parole after more than 30 years in prison this week, the Los Angeles Times reported. A California parole board determined Erik, who, along with brother Lyle, was convicted in the 1989 murder of their parents, remains “an unreasonable risk to public safety.”

The parole board deliberated for nearly 10 hours before it ruled. At the hearing, the board heard about Erik’s rehabilitation in prison, his prison record, and the reasons for and against his release. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office called for the board to deny Erik parole, and more than a dozen family members spoke in his favor. The board agreed with the prosecutors. It cited Erik’s juvenile criminal record, the nature of the crime, and “serious violations” Erik has committed in prison.

In his 50s now, Erik will be able to apply for parole again in three years. Parole Commissioner Robert Barton explained the board’s decision by saying it wasn’t based solely on the original crime, but also Erik’s record in prison.

“You can present a risk to public safety in a variety of ways, through many types of criminal behavior, some of which you were guilty of in prison,” Barton told Erik. He also advised Erik to rely on his “great support network” to prevent further violations.

The record shows Erik has committed nine rule violations since being sent to prison. His infractions include possession of drugs and a cell phone, as well as other contraband items such as stamps, a lighter, and batteries. While several corrections officers have submitted letters in his favor, describing Erik as a “model inmate,” Barton questioned whether that was truly an accurate term for someone with Erik’s history of violations. Erik replied that he had only begun to feel a release might be possible last year, and that his “consequential thinking” had changed as a result.

Numerous family members testified on Erik’s behalf, and many of them were in tears. They described three decades of hurt and division resulting from the murders, and many also spoke of forgiveness. “To say that our family has experienced pain does not quite capture what the last 35 years have been like,” said Tiffani Lucero-Pastor, the great-niece of the Menendez brothers’ mother, Kitty. “It has divided us. It has caused us panic and anxiety.”

Others said Kitty’s lack of intervention when it came to alleged abuse in the home compounded the brothers’ fear. Karen Mae Vandermolen-Copley, Kitty’s niece, said the Menendez brothers were “terrified” by their parents’ “huge age gap.” Kitty, she added, “entered into the mix and her absence of protection deepened their fear and confusion.” The only known family member against Erik’s parole was Kitty’s brother, Milton Andersen, who died earlier this year.

Following the ruling, the family released a statement, saying it was disappointed but understood the decision. “Our belief in Erik remains unwavering,” it read. “His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he’s had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he can return home soon.”

Lyle Menendez to Face Parole Hearing, Governor Holds Final Say

Erik’s brother, Lyle, was also scheduled to appear before the parole board. He will now have his hearing on Friday, when the board will look at his record of rehabilitation and conduct in prison. Although Lyle has fewer disciplinary violations than Erik, the circumstances of the crime itself may count against him.

In Lyle’s testimony during the original 1993 trial, he said he killed his parents with multiple shotgun blasts at close range. This week, Barton noted that Lyle’s mother’s death was “devoid of human compassion.”

The board is also likely to take into account questions Lyle has faced about changing his story on alleged abuse by his father. At one point, prosecutors say, he even had his girlfriend lie and say his father drugged and raped her. The details may make it difficult for Lyle, who also has family support, with several members of his family also expected to testify on his behalf.

The parole hearings for both Lyle and Erik came after both brothers were resentenced in May from life without the possibility of parole to terms of 50 years to life, making them both eligible for parole for the first time. The Menendez case has long been one of the most high-profile murder trials in California history. The brothers, who both testified in the original trial, said they killed their parents out of fear after years of abuse by their father. Prosecutors have instead said the murders were financially motivated and that the brothers wanted their father’s fortune.

But final say on their cases will rest with Governor Gavin Newsom. Under a 1988 state law, governors can approve, deny, or modify parole board decisions for people convicted of murder and given indeterminate terms. The board will conduct an internal review of its decision for up to 120 days, at which point Newsom will have 30 days to make a decision.

In the past, many legal experts say, California governors have been wary of letting high-profile prisoners go. “Every governor is fairly allergic to releasing high-profile defendants,” said Christopher Hawthorne, a Loyola Law School professor. Former governors Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger rarely granted parole to such prisoners. But in the past decade, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom have turned the tide, making parole much more likely.

Still, the notoriety of the Menendez brothers may work against them. As Hawthorne put it, Newsom will have to take into account public safety and whether or not Lyle and Erik have shown true insight into their crimes.

For now, Erik will remain behind bars, at least three years, until he can try to secure his release. Lyle will soon see whether his path takes a different route or if both brothers will continue to serve life sentences they began more than 30 years ago.