What happened to Lyle and Erik Menendez? True story behind Netflix's Monsters
In this latest installment, the true crime series will spotlight the case of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who murdered their parents at their home in Beverly Hills on August 20, 1989.
In the trial concerning the deaths of their parents, José and Kitty, the brothers explained that years of mistreatment were the motivation behind their actions.
Lyle and Erik stated that they killed their parents because they were afraid that their father would kill them if they revealed the long-standing abuse they had experienced.
As the series debuts on Netflix, a lot of people are curious about the fate of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez.
Keep reading to find out all the important details you need to know about them.
Is "Monsters: The Menendez Story" True?
Monsters: The Tale of Lyle and Erik Menendez. Netflix
Absolutely! The latest Netflix series draws inspiration from the true story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, siblings who were found guilty in 1996 of killing their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.
Over the course of nine episodes, Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" delves into the notorious case. According to the summary, the prosecution contended that the brothers aimed to gain their family's wealth. In contrast, the brothers have consistently maintained that their actions were driven by fear resulting from a lifetime of abuse—physical, emotional, and sexual—inflicted by their parents. They currently serve life sentences without the chance of parole.
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. Miles Crist/Netflix
The true story of the Menendez brothers captivated the public for many reasons, particularly due to the fascination with the events leading up to the deaths of their parents, José and Kitty, as well as the brothers' behavior following the tragic incident.
On the night of August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik entered their family's Beverly Hills residence armed with shotguns. They went on to shoot and kill their parents. Kitty sustained ten gunshot wounds, while her husband, José, was shot six times, including a lethal shot to the back of his head.
Following the shootings, the brothers stayed inside the house, assuming that the police would arrive soon because of the loud gunfire.
When the police showed up, the brothers explained that they had spent the entire evening at the movies watching Batman and later at the Taste of LA Festival.
They reported that when they got home, they discovered their parents had been killed. Trusting their account, the police didn't request gun residue tests from the brothers and started looking into the murders of Kitty and José.
In the months following their parents' deaths, the Menendez brothers began indulging in a luxurious lifestyle and were spending money at a shocking pace.
The brothers didn’t just splurge on high-end goods; they also went on international trips, acquired restaurants, and bought neighboring houses in Marina del Rey. Reports indicate that together they spent a total of $700,000 before their arrest.
Their extravagant spending raised suspicions with the police, who were working to identify potential suspects with a motive for the murder of José and Kitty.
Although they had a hint that the mob might be involved, their focus shifted to the brothers, who appeared to have a strong financial incentive for the murders.
The police enlisted the assistance of Erik's friend, Craig Cignarelli, and requested that he wear a hidden recording device to confront Erik directly about whether he had killed his parents. Erik denied the accusation, but later on, he admitted to the crime during a session with his psychologist, Jerome Oziel.
The significant turning point in the case occurred when Oziel revealed Erik's confession to his lover, Judalon Smyth. Although Oziel ended his relationship with Smyth, she, feeling hurt and vengeful, decided to inform the police about what Oziel had shared with her regarding Erik.
The brothers were taken into custody in 1990, six months after José and Kitty were killed. Lyle was apprehended on March 8th of that year, while Erik, who had just returned from Israel, surrendered to the authorities three days later.
The trial captured the attention of the nation when it began in 1993, with live coverage on Court TV each day. The two brothers faced separate proceedings for their actions, yet both acknowledged that they had killed their parents in self-defense.
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Why Did Lyle And Erik Menendez Murder Their Parents?
Monsters: The Tale of Lyle and Erik Menendez. Miles Crist/Netflix
The siblings claimed that they had taken their parents' lives in order to protect themselves.
They expressed feeling terrified for their lives due to enduring years of mistreatment from their parents, particularly their father, José, whom they accused of sexually abusing them over an extended period.
In court, Lyle provided detailed accounts of the abuse he claimed his father inflicted. He mentioned that he had confronted José about the sexual assault of Erik just a few days prior to the murder.
The claims of sexual abuse were supported by two relatives of the brothers—cousins Andy Cano and Diane Vander Molen. Cano shared that Erik confided in him about the abuse when they were kids, while Molen recounted that she informed Kitty about a situation in which José was supposedly abusive towards Lyle. Molen indicated that Kitty dismissed the allegations as untrue at that time.
The prosecution claimed that the brothers murdered their parents out of a desire for financial benefit, rather than as an act of self-defense. The initial trials concluded in 1994, but both juries were unable to reach a unanimous decision, leading to a mistrial.
The second trial took place in 1995, where the brothers were tried simultaneously. This time, it was less publicized, as Judge Stanley Weisberg decided to keep TV cameras out of the courtroom.
Once more, the defense pointed to a history of mistreatment, while on the other side, the prosecution claimed that the brothers behaved like "cruel, entitled children."
Weisberg restricted the testimony regarding the supposed abuse by the brothers and did not permit the jury to deliberate on manslaughter charges, focusing solely on the murder charges.
On March 21, 1996, Lyle and Erik were convicted of two charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They were each sentenced to two life terms in prison, with no chance of parole.
Although the jury acknowledged that the allegations of abuse did not influence their discussions, they ultimately chose not to give the death penalty because the brothers had no prior criminal records.
What Are Lyle And Erik Menendez Doing Now?
Following their sentencing, the brothers were divided and placed in separate correctional facilities. However, in 2018, they had the chance to come together again when they were both transferred to the same prison located in San Diego to complete their sentences.
They were placed in the same living quarters, which was the first time the brothers had laid eyes on each other in nearly 22 years.
Throughout the years, the brothers have submitted numerous appeals, but each one has been rejected.
Last year, the Menendez brothers requested a new hearing by presenting new evidence. Among the documents they provided was a statement from Roy Rosselló, a member of a boy band, who alleged that he was raped by José Menendez when he was just 14 years old, as mentioned in a documentary.
In May 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office informed CNN that they have accepted the habeas petition related to the Menendez case, and it is now being examined.
Currently, the brothers provide guidance to fellow inmates who have experienced sexual abuse, with Erik facilitating a number of self-help groups within the prison. This information comes from journalist Robert Rand, who has been reporting on the case since 1989 and shared additional insights with A&E True Crime.
Both brothers are married as well; Lyle is wed to journalist-turned-lawyer Rebecca Sneed, while Erik is married to Tammi Saccoman, a prison pen pal, with whom he shares a daughter.
You can watch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix starting Thursday, September 19, 2024. A Netflix subscription starts at just £4.99 per month. Additionally, you can access Netflix through Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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