Joan Vander Molen, Kitty Menendez’s older sister may be 92, but she doesn’t pull any punches. The white-haired matriarch of the Menendez family is a staunch and outspoken supporter of Eric And LyleThat’s since 1990, when they were accused of murdering their parents with shotguns in the den of their Beverly Hills home. Now she’s hoping they could be released from prison thanks to the Los Angeles district attorney’s announcement last week. George Gascon, that he is considering new evidence in the case.

In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, VanderMolen reveals intimate details about how she and her sister grew up, and while you can never truly know what’s going on in another person’s head, her revelations about her father offer as close to understanding why Kitty didn’t leave Jose Menendez never before, even though Erik and Lyle testified to years of sexual and physical abuse. The case has, of course, sparked renewed interest due to two Netflix releases: Ryan Murphyis a scripted series and new documentary film directed by Alejandro Hartmann. Excerpts from VF‘s conversation with VanderMolen…

Vanity Fair: Thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I know you’ve been through a lot.

Joan Vander Molen: You could say that. It’s always difficult (to talk about Erik and Lyle). They are very important to me. I’m shocked right now thinking about it.

If you don’t mind me asking, can you say more about what’s making you so upset?

The fact that they are in the situation that they are. You don’t deserve any of this. They have been used and abused and it seems to never end.

The prosecutor says he is looking at the writ of habeas corpus filed by Erik and Lyle’s attorneys. Are you hoping that perhaps there is an end in sight?

Naturally. I’ve had this for a long time. Since day one.

You were arrested 34 years ago. That’s a long time to hold hope.

Yes. It’s not fair.

I’ve re-watched some footage of the trial and think it’s still shocking after all these years.

That doesn’t even say how I I felt like when the second trial came, there was no defense at all that was allowed. There was no process at all. Everything her lawyer said was drained. (Leslie Abramson) couldn’t get anything (admitted as evidence). It was as if the abuse had never happened. It wasn’t fair at all. I don’t know how the jury reached a verdict after such a crazy trial.

Courtesy of Netflix.

Did you talk to Leslie Abramson at the time about what happened?

I just told her that the work she did was excellent. And that she is shot down like that. Judge (Stanley) Weisberg I shot them the whole time.

What did she say? Do you remember?

No. I just told her I loved her and she told me she loved me too. That’s all. She is a great woman and did her best and then some without the court even recognizing her.

When was the last time you spoke to Lyle or Erik?

Last week.

How are you doing?

They are hopeful. That’s all I can say, it’s hopeful. That’s all of us. I could cry just thinking about all the years that have passed and here they are.

How often do you talk to them?

Oh yes, regularly. Weekly.

Their lives will be very different when they are released…

Well, they would have to adapt to their situation. It’s scary. But you know, they didn’t plan on spending their lives in prison either.

Her daughters Diane and Kathleen testified about Jose’s abuse. Diane said she told Kitty that Lyle told her that Jose had touched his private parts, but Kitty didn’t believe her. Kathleen said that Jose would send the children to their room and that no one was allowed to go near the hallway when he was alone with Erik or Lyle.