In 1989, two brothers Lyle (21) and Erik (18) Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without parole after the convictions of first-degree murder in the killing of their parents in Beverly Hills. According to the brothers, they killed their parents out of fear and in self-defense after suffering from life long physical, emotional and sexual abuse from their parents.
On Sunday, Aug. 20, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot multiple times in the family room of their Beverly Hills mansion. Shortly after the incident, 911 received a call from the then 21-year-old Lyle Menendez reporting the murder of his parents.
The brothers told investigators that they had arrived home to find their parents shot. Initially, investigators suspected that the killings may have been tied to Jose’s business dealings, but attention soon shifted to the couple’s sons. At the peak of the crime, the brothers were found spending large amounts of their parents’ money, buying Rolex watches, real estate and investing in businesses. However, the brothers’ suspicious behavior wasn’t considered hard evidence.
Just about six months after the crime, the police got advice that put the Menendez brothers away for life. Judalon Smyth, the girlfriend of a psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, whom the Menendez brothers had been talking to, told police that the brothers had confessed to the killings in therapy and Dr. Oziel had an audiotaped recording of it.
“[The brothers] admitted they shot their entertainment executive father and their mother, but said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father’s alleged long-term sexual molestation of Erik,” Newsweek said.
On March 8, 1990, Lyle Menendez was arrested outside their home and about two days later Erik Menendez surrendered at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving home from a tennis tournament in Israel.
“Lyle Menendez testified that he was sexually abused by his mother and father. He said his father began sexually abusing him when he was only 6 years old,” CBS news said. “Lyle Menendez testified that his father stopped sexually abusing him when he was 8, Erik Menendez testified that it never ended for him and that he finally confided in his older brother Lyle days before the crime — at age 18.”
The trial was declared a mistrial, but a second trial began shortly after.. After days of deliberating, the jury found them guilty of first-degree murder and the brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
About three decades after their convictions, one of the brothers’ appellate attorneys, Cliff Gardner, came forward highlighting new evidence that proves that Lyle, who is now 56,and Erik, who is now 53,were telling the truth about the abuse.
“The boys were abused as children. They were abused their whole lives…and this is a manslaughter case, not a murder case. It’s just that simple,” Gardner said.
It is important to note that if the brothers had been convicted of manslaughter instead of first-degree murder, they would have received a much shorter sentence and be out of prison by now.
Two main pieces of evidence were brought up, a letter and a new witness. The first was a letter Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, in Dec. 1988, about eight months before the killings.
“I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening Andy but it’s worse for me now… Every night I stay up thinking he might come in.” Menendez said.
Gardner explains this excerpt from the letter Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin is proof that the abuse took place and can be a key factor in the brothers ability to apply for parole.
The second piece of evidence involves a witness named Roy Rossello who has come forward alleging that he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez as well. Taking place in the early 80’s, Rossello was a part of a Puerto Rican boy band, Menudo. Jose Menendez worked as the executive at the record label in which Menudo was signed to Radio Corporation of America Records.
Los Angeles County District Attorney, George Gascón, has recently filed the petition to repent the brothers which would allow them to apply for parole for the first time. This would mean that the brothers would only spend 50 years in prison rather than life without parole. Additionally, since they were under the age of 26 at the time of the murder, it would allow them to apply for “youth parole”. Juvenile parole is a court-imposed service that gives support and monitoring of a juvenile who has returned to the community following a commitment.
The petition must be considered by the judge and if the judge agrees, a parole board will evaluate their case while also examining their efforts to rehabilitate.
The recent release in the Netflix series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” has caused this case to increase in popularity. Along with the popularity increase, there has been an increase in controversy. Even though the series reached top of the streaming charts, the show has not done well with critics.
“But the show hasn’t gone down as well with critics. In a two-star review, the Guardian’s Jesse Hassenger described it as “exhausting and repetitive” while IndieWire’s Ben Travers said it was a “messy, salacious slog”.” BBC said.
Erik Menendez’s wife, Tammi Menendez, released his opinion on the documentary. Expressing how portrayals of him and Lyle are disheartening.
“Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth. How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma.” Erik Menendez said.
Overall the Netflix series is a good watch; however, it is important to remember that the series is fictional and is not the entire truth.
