formed a connection with 21-year-old college student in the aftermath of his split from wife .
A source exclusively told Us Weekly that Menéndez, 56, and Bucksey “have been communicating” and she has “gone to visit him once in person” but there is “no possibility” for conjugal visits” for the unlikely couple.
“They have only communicated via the tools at Lyle’s disposal,” the insider added while pointing out that Lyle and Bucksey’s romance “is not at the forefront” of his family’s mind as they focus on the next hearing in Lyle and brother ‘s resentencing request.
News broke earlier this month about Lyle and Milly, which Sneed confirmed in a statement about their breakup.
“Guys! This is NOT a cheating scandal. Lyle and I have been separated for a while now but remain best friends and family,” Sneed wrote via Facebook post on Thursday, November 21. “I continue to run his Facebook pages, with input from him, and I am forever committed to the enduring fight for Lyle and Erik’s freedom, as has been so evident over the years.”
Sneed continued to advocate for Lyle and Erik’s release from prison, adding, “Please keep this page as the abuse survivor support page Lyle wants it to be. I’ll continue to update you all on the progress of the case because I believe we all have the common goal of seeing the guys walk free! I will never stop fighting for them. Please continue to join us in this fight!”
Lyle found love with Sneed as he served out his life sentence for first-degree murder. Lyle and Erik, 53, were arrested in 1990 for the death of their parents, and, whom they have accused of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
The brothers were ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 after two high-profile trials. While their prior attempts to appeal the decision were denied, the Los Angeles District Attorney recommended in October that a judge resentence Erik and Lyle to 50 years, which could make them eligible for parole and release from prison.
Lyle, who was previously married to model , formed a bond with Sneed after she wrote to him in prison. They remained in contact and by 2003, Lyle and Sneed were a married couple. (Erik, for his part, has been married to wife since 1999.)
“People are judgmental, and she has to put up with a lot,” Lyle told People in 2017. “But she has the courage to deal with the obstacles. It would be easier to leave, but I’m profoundly grateful that she doesn’t.”
The prisoner also explained how the pair remain close despite a lack of conjugal visits. (Prisons in California permit conjugal visits, but prisoners serving life sentences without parole are banned from such privileges. The law was changed in 2016 but since Erik and Lyle committed a violent offense against a family member, they still aren’t eligible for the family visits.)
“Our interaction tends to be very free of distractions and we probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do, who are distracted by life’s events,” Lyle added at the time.
With reporting by Travis Cronin
