A California parole board has denied parole for Erik Menendez, who was convicted alongside his brother Lyle of murdering their parents in 1989, delivering a crippling blow to the brothers’ yearslong fight for release.

Erik Menendez was denied parole during his first-ever parole hearing on Thursday, 36 years and one day after he and his brother killed their parents.

Talia’s mother Tammi Menendez exchanged letters with Erik while he was in prison, and the two later started meeting in-person. They got married in 1999 and have been together ever since. Erik later adopted her daughter Talia, who he shares a very close bond with.