Erik and Lyle Menéndez’s murder case has been in the public eye for over three decades, starting with their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, being found dead in 1989. The brothers were arrested in 1990 on charges of first-degree murder and were convicted in subsequent trials to life sentences without the possibility of parole. They claimed that their parents were abusive, leading them to act in self-defense. The case has been the subject of various TV shows and the FX series “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” in 2016.
In September 2024, Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” series explored the Menéndez story, bringing renewed interest to the case. The show raised questions about whether the brothers should receive a new trial and be released from prison. A new documentary on Erik and Lyle is set to be released on Netflix, further fueling public discussions about their potential release and rehabilitation. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office cited new evidence indicating that their father molested them, leading to a new hearing for their case.
A timeline of events in Erik and Lyle’s case shows that they confessed to the murders to their therapist, leading to their arrest in 1990. It took several years for a trial to be set due to issues regarding doctor-patient confidentiality, but ultimately tapes of their conversations were used as evidence. The brothers were initially tried separately, claiming abuse as the cause of their actions, but were found guilty in 1995. They were sentenced to life without parole in 1996, with numerous appeals and habeas corpus petitions over the years all being denied.
In 2023, a docuseries titled “Menéndez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” was released, alleging that José Menéndez had drugged and raped singer Roy Rosselló when he was a teen. This led to a petition for retrial, citing new evidence including Rosselló’s allegations and a letter from Erik describing his father’s abuse. In September 2024, the second season of “Monsters” debuted, receiving both acclaim and criticism for its depiction of the Menéndez brothers. Erik released a statement criticizing the show’s portrayal of them, while Netflix announced a documentary featuring interviews with Lyle and Erik, as well as other key figures in the case.
The brothers received public support from actor Cooper Koch, prison reform activist Kim Kardashian, and others, advocating for their release. The Los Angeles District Attorney announced a new hearing based on the new evidence in the case, potentially offering the brothers a chance at freedom after serving nearly two decades in prison. The continued public interest in the Menéndez case raises questions about justice, rehabilitation, and the possibility of a second chance for the brothers.
