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The new Netflix documentary series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is based on the Menendez brothers' case. Erik and Lyle Menendez were arrested for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty, and were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Even though 2024 marks almost three decades since their arrests, the legal team for the Menendez brothers has been trying to present new evidence that might secure their release. However, the verdict remains unchanged, and the two brothers are still at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
The Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story focuses on the events leading up to the crime, the brothers' arrest, and their highly publicized trials.
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What was the verdict after the trial of the Menendez brothers?
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were tried three times on charges of first-degree murder for the killing of their parents, José and Kitty. They shot them at their home and initially told police they were attending a film festival at the time of the murders.
It was after they started extravagantly spending their inheritance that the police began to suspect the brothers' motives. The arrests happened after Judalyn Smith, the mistress of Erik’s therapist, Dr. Oziel, told the police she overheard the brothers confessing to the murders outside of Oziel’s office.
The courts conducted three trials, one of which was immensely publicized and televised. This was when the Menendez brothers gained national attention, and many people actively followed their story.
In March 1996, Lyle and Erik were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. They were initially imprisoned separately, with Lyle in Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California, and Erik in Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Later, Lyle was also moved to San Diego in 2018 and reunited with his younger brother.
Read more: Fact check: Was Erik Menendez gay? Explained
The brothers have built a life for themselves in prison, with Erik even marrying his pen pal, Tammi Ruth, in 1999. At Mule Creek Prison, Lyle also started a support group for prisoners who had been victims of sexual abuse. Lyle is currently married to Rebecca Sneed.
Over the years, the Menendez brothers have revealed horrifying stories of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of their father. In 2023, a former member of a Puerto Rican band called Menudo also spoke out against José Menendez. The band member, named Rosselló, said that the former Hollywood executive had drugged and abused him, thus further validating Erik and Lyle's perspective.
The brothers' lawyers have been filing petitions to reconsider the convictions since 2023. But the plea is yet to be acknowledged by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. If the plea is considered, another trial will be held for Lyle and Erik.
Audiences can follow a dramatic representation of the story of the Menendez brothers on Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, streaming now on Netflix.
