In an interview with Variety, Koch described his first encounter with Erik. He said they stood silently for a while before embracing. Koch went on to call both brothers "kind people" and expressed that he felt privileged to spend time with them. “I got to hug both of them and just be in their presence,” Koch shared.
The actor also voiced his belief that Erik and Lyle deserve a new trial. He pointed out that they were only 18 and 21 years old when the crime took place and emphasized that the brothers were victims of abuse. Koch explained that when the murders happened, society wasn’t as open to acknowledging “male-on-male sexual abuse,” especially since, in this case, it was their father who was the abuser.
Koch dismissed the theory that the brothers killed their parents for financial gain, calling it "bonkers" and saying it was simply easier for people to accept that narrative at the time. Now, 35 years later, awareness around child sexual abuse and male-on-male abuse has increased, and Koch believes it’s time to reconsider their case.
Koch also spoke about Erik’s criticism of the Netflix series, stating that he understands Erik’s pain and supports the brothers. Koch revealed that his visit to the facility was at the invitation of Kim Kardashian, who is working on prison reform. Kardashian was joined by her sister Khloé and their mother Kris Jenner during the visit.
According to Koch, the brothers have been making positive contributions while in prison. Erik leads meditation and speech classes, and both brothers are involved in a "Greenspace project" aimed at improving the prison grounds.
The Menendez brothers' case first made headlines in 1989 when they were accused of killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. The brothers claimed they acted in response to years of sexual abuse. Despite this, the authorities argued that the motive was financial greed. In 1996, Erik and Lyle were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.