True Crime

X-Raided, a rapper who spent time behind bars with the Menendez Brothers, says Erik and Lyle remain "cautiously optimistic" about the prospect of potentially being free men ... despite a recent roadblock.

We got X-Raided -- government name Anerae Brown -- in Los Angeles on Friday and our photog asked him how Erik and Lyle are holding up after their resentencing hearing was delayed.

The guy did hard time with Erik and Lyle back in the day and was so impacted by them, they've kept in touch ever since.

The Menendez Brothers resentencing hearing has ended for the day ... and will not be continued on Friday, as originally scheduled.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 9, and will address the admissibility of a risk assessment report ... and the brothers' defense attorney Mark Geragos is expected to file for L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to be personally recused from the case. Hochman grew up in Beverly Hills and went to the same high school as the Menendez Bros.

In a news conference after today's hearing, Geragos repeatedly accused the D.A.'s Office -- and specifically Hochman -- of retraumatizing the Menendez family. One family member was reportedly hospitalized after crime scene photos were shown in court on April 11. Bryan Freedman, who represents members of the Menendez family, said he wants to ensure their Marsy's Law rights are respected.

Khloé Kardashian says her kids aren't bringing their PJs and sleeping bags to friends' houses, ever ... 'cause she says she's not comfortable with them attending sleepovers -- and true crime is the reason why.

The reality star admitted her strict rules about her children sleeping away from home on her "Khloé in Wonder Land" podcast ... telling her guest, UFC President Dana White, she's strict on the rule -- and arguing times are different from when she and Dana were kids.

Kardashian says, "They’re not allowed to have sleepovers, just because I’m one of those types of, I just, I think too much. I’ve watched too much ‘Dateline.'”

10:38 AM PT -- Next Generation Action Network president Dominique Alexander began the press conference several minutes after police sorted out the issue ... and he kicked things by ripping Jeff Metcalf for appearing uninvited. He called the man's behavior "inappropriate," and "a disrespect to the dignity of his son."

Alexander then went on to blast media members for spreading falsehoods about the Anthonys in wake of their son's arrest -- appearing to take the biggest issue with the family's GiveSendGo funds, which he was adamant nobody had access to until Wednesday.

Karmelo's mom, Kayla Hayes, then addressed reporters ... and emotionally pleaded for the threats and harassment she and her family have received to stop.

Alexander ultimately wrapped up the event by insisting this will be their last press conference until a trial for Karmelo begins.

Karmelo Anthony's family was slated to address the teen's murder charge at a news conference roughly an hour ago -- but they put a pause on the proceedings ... as the father of the boy who Anthony allegedly killed unexpectedly showed up to the event.

"Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin's wife won't be haunting him ... in a court of law, at least -- she's struck a plea deal to avoid a lengthy murder-for-hire trial, and shorten her sentence.

Victoria Goodwin filed docs, obtained by TMZ, informing the judge in Clark County, Nevada, she intends to plead guilty to one of the 2 counts she was facing for allegedly plotting to kill her famous husband.

According to the docs, Goodwin says she's copping to conspiracy to commit murder, and in exchange prosecutors will drop the charge of solicitation to commit murder. Additionally, prosecutors have agreed to make no recommendation to the judge on Goodwin's sentence.

The Menendez Brothers' relatives are ripping L.A. County D.A. Nathan Hochman ... blasting his use of crime scene photos in a recent court hearing as a "grotesque spectacle" with dire consequences.

Bryan Freedman -- the attorney representing the family -- rips Hochman in a new court filing ... saying the county's top prosecutor is making a mockery of Marsy's Law, which protects the rights of crime victims.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Freedman says Hochman gratuitously and needlessly displayed crime scene photos at Friday's court hearing, which was attended by a bunch of Erik's and Lyle's relatives -- and he claims the photos caused the brothers' 85-year-old aunt, Terry Baralt, such severe emotional distress she ended up in a hospital bed.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says Erik and Lyle Menendez needed to 'fess up to all their lies when talking to TMZ from prison ... but their lawyer Mark Geragos says prosecutors are focused on the wrong things.

Nathan and Mark joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" and we asked them about the upcoming resentencing hearing and the brothers' bid for freedom.

Hochman digs his heels in and argues why Erik and Lyle should remain behind bars  ... telling us the Menendez Bros missed a golden opportunity to take responsibility and apologize in their recent TMZ special.

Taylor Lorenz is inserting herself into the Luigi Mangione case -- well, hypothetically -- 'cause she’s weighing in on what her verdict would be if she had a seat on that trial jury.

The ex-Washington Post columnist swung by "TMZ Live" Monday ... and we grilled her on which route she'd go on Luigi's fate -- guilty with the death penalty, guilty with prison time, or not guilty via jury nullification. Let’s just say, it wasn’t an easy call for the outspoken journo.

Check it out ... Taylor tells us she's firmly against the death penalty, so that one’s off the table -- but when it comes to the other two options, she’s torn ... because we haven't seen the potential evidence presented yet.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is thriving and showing off that post-baby snapback like a boss!

GRB popped all the way off on IG Sunday -- serving a snatched 25-lb.-down bod in a white halterneck and flaunting her chic short 'do to seal the deal. She even hit us with a before pic to let the glow-up speak for itself.

Gypsy welcomed baby girl Aurora with fiancé Ken Urker in December, and it looks like she’s already a pro at balancing mom life with pouring some time back into herself.

The Menendez family is blaming the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office for the hospitalization of Terry Baralt -- Erik and Lyle's aunt ... claiming the graphic crime scene photos they were shown did a number on her health.

In a press release from the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition -- a collective of family members fighting for the brothers' release -- the group confirmed our story that Baralt had been found unresponsive in her hotel room.

The coalition says the D.A.'s office didn't give the family a heads up that they would be presenting photos of the crime scene at Friday's resentencing hearing ... a violation of Marsy's Law, a law designed to protect the victims of crimes.

Lyle and Erik Menendez's aunt, Terry Baralt, has been rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive in a Los Angeles hotel room ... TMZ has learned.

Our sources tell us Terry -- who is 85 and battling colon cancer -- has been exhausted, stressed and traumatized in the last year as the entire Menendez family works to get the two brothers released from prison.

It all came to a boiling point Friday when the Menendez brothers appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom for a resentencing hearing. During the tense hearing, the defense team went at it with prosecutors while the Menendez family looked on.

Rosie O’Donnell has revealed her friendship with an infamous convicted killer -- Lyle Menendez -- saying she feels "safe" to be vulnerable with him.

The actress, comedian, and former talk show host opened up about their close bond during a recent chat with the New York Times ... revealing she and Lyle -- who is serving life in prison without parole alongside his brother Erik Menendez for the first degree murder of their parents -- became pals in 2022 after his now-estranged wife reached out to her.

Rosie said she and Lyle began speaking on a "regular basis" via a tablet phone, and their friendship grew naturally.

Erik and Lyle Menendez might take the stand next Thursday to convince the judge in their resentencing hearing they're worthy of redemption ... but according to their lawyer, it could be a high-risk move.

Mark Geragos jumped on the "2 Angry Men" podcast Friday from the Van Nuys Courthouse, fresh off a victory where the judge shut down the D.A.'s request to put the kibosh on any resentencing hearing.

Excuse the intro to the clip -- it's a pisser -- but a little ways in, Harvey asks Mark about his strategy to possibly call the bros to the stand. Harvey has spent some time talking to Erik and Lyle, and says plainly they presented themselves as compelling men who might impress the judge.

Erik and Lyle Menendez will get their day in court to seek a new sentence, and possibly win their freedom ... after an intense battle with L.A. County D.A. ended with the judge ruling in the brothers' favor.

The Menendez brothers appeared remotely in the L.A. County courtroom Friday where D.A. Nathan Hochman and his team of prosecutors presented their case to the judge for withdrawing the petition to resentence Erik and Lyle -- a petition that was filed by the previous D.A. George Gascon, and which the newly elected Hochman vehemently opposes.

The brothers -- wearing prison blues -- were seen on a video screen in court, and visibly reacted as prosecutors repeatedly stated that they had not changed since their conviction ... because they never admitted their claim they purchased guns in fear for their lives was a lie.

Cooper Koch, who played Erik Menendez in a Netflix series about the infamous Menendez murders, is showing support for the Menendez Brothers ... because he's in the house for a court hearing for their resentencing petition.

The "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" star was spotted Friday on his way into a courthouse in Van Nuys, in L.A. ... walking in arm-in-arm with his boyfriend.

At one point, Cooper -- wearing shades and a gray sweater -- stopped to talk to Erik's wife, Tammi Menendez, and Erik's adopted daughter, Talia Menendez.

Weezer bass player Scott Shriner's wife is getting lots of attention for being shot by LAPD officers and getting booked for attempted murder ... but before she got famous for being shot by cops, she shot an episode for Zak Bagans' TV show.

Production sources tell TMZ ... Jillian Lauren Shriner filmed an episode of "Ghost Adventures" back in November at Zak's Haunted Museum in Las Vegas.

We're told the episode was all about serial killer Samuel Little ... Jillian's an expert on the guy because she once wrote a book about him.