Lyle Menendez and his wife, Rebecca Sneed, quietly ended their marriage after more than 21 years together, but she remains a key figure in his life despite rumors of a cheating scandal Sneed says are baseless, PEOPLE has learned.

The couple tied the knot in 2003 while Menendez was serving time for the 1989 murders of his and his brother Erik's parents.

The announcement came just days before a court hearing that could potentially determine whether Lyle and his brother might walk free The wife of Lyle Menendez has announced their separation after more than 20 years of marriage. Rebecca Sneed, Lyle's second ...