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Monsters: The Lyle an Erik Menendez Story has introduced newfound consideration to Erik Menendez and Lyle Menéndez‘s case. The brothers have been imprisoned since 1996 for the homicide of their dad and mom, José Menéndez and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez, whom Lyle and Erik accused of bodily, emotional and sexual abuse. Now {that a} new technology is their story with a brand new lens, might the brothers’ case be reopened? Hollywood Life has compiled all the main points and updates about their incarceration, beneath.
Why Did Lyle and Erik Menendez Kill Jose and Kitty?
In August 1989, Lyle and Erik fatally shot their dad and mom a number of occasions. The crime scene was grotesque since José was struck six occasions and Kitty was shot 10 occasions. The brothers have been criticized for dwelling an opulent life-style within the months following their dad and mom’ deaths. Erik ultimately confessed to the murders to his therapist, Jerome Oziel, who confided in his then-mistress, Judalon Smyth. She knowledgeable police about Lyle and Erik’s involvement within the crime, and so they have been arrested in 1990.
After a mistrial, Lyle and Erik have been formally convicted on two counts of first-degree homicide and conspiracy to homicide in 1996. They have been sentenced to life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
Are the Menendez Brothers Nonetheless Alive?
Lyle and Erik have been despatched to separate California prisons following their conviction. Each are nonetheless alive at the moment and can converse out about their case in Netflix’s upcoming documentary, The Menendez Brothers, which premieres on October 7, 2024.
Are Lyle and Erik Menendez within the Identical Jail?
The brothers have been held in separate prisons till 2018 when Lyle was moved to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. Although they have been initially housed in separate items of the jail, Lyle and Erik have been positioned in the identical unit in 2018. This was the primary time the brothers had reunited in 22 years. In accordance with a number of retailers, Lyle and Erik have been prevented from speaking to one another on the telephone earlier than they have been reunited.
Is the Menendez Case Being Reopened?
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Lyle and Erik might obtain a brand new sentence as a result of a habeas corpus petition. Though they’ve already appealed their convictions earlier than, their late father was just lately accused of sexual abuse by a band member of Menudo. Moreover, new proof has come to mild probably proving that José had abused each of his sons.
In October 2024, Los Angeles District Lawyer George Gascón confirmed {that a} new court docket listening to has been set for Lyle and Erik. Per Selection, the listening to is scheduled for November 29, 2024.
“Now we have been given proof,” George mentioned at throughout press convention, in accordance with the outlet. “Now we have been given a photocopy of a letter that allegedly was despatched by one of many brothers to a different member of the family speaking about him being the sufferer of molestation. We’ve additionally obtained proof that was supplied by the protection, by his attorneys, that one of many members of the Menudo band alleged that he was molested by the daddy.”
Nonetheless, George famous that “none” of the submitted proof has been “confirmed.”
“We’re not at this level able to say that we both imagine or don’t imagine that info, however we’re right here to inform you is that we now have an ethical and an moral obligation to evaluation what’s being introduced to us and make a willpower primarily based on a resentencing facet, whether or not they should be resentenced — although they have been clearly the murderers — as a result of they’ve been in jail for years and so they have paid again their dues to society,” he continued in his assertion. “If there was proof that was not introduced to the court docket at the moment, and had that proof been introduced, maybe a jury would have come to a unique conclusion.”
The court docket listening to opens up the chance for a retrial or a resentencing for Erik and Lyle.
What Did the Menendez Brothers Say About ‘Monsters’?
Shortly after Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was launched on Netflix, Erik launched a press release condemning the collection for its portrayal of him and his brother.
“I believed we had moved past the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, making a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant within the present,” Erik famous. “I can solely imagine they have been finished so on objective. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say, I imagine Ryan Murphy can’t be this naive and inaccurate in regards to the details of our lives in order to do that with out dangerous intent.”
In response to Erik and his household’s criticism of the present, Monster anthology co-creator Ryan Murphy slammed them for “enjoying the sufferer card.”
“The Menéndez brothers ought to be sending me flowers,” Ryan informed THR in September 2024. “They haven’t had a lot consideration in 30 years. And it’s gotten the eye of not solely this nation, however all around the world. There’s type of an outpouring of curiosity of their lives and within the case. … I do know for a incontrovertible fact that many individuals have provided to assist them due to the curiosity of my present and what we did,”
Ryan additionally identified that with Monsters, he informed “a narrative that was a really broad canvas,” referring to Lyle and Erik’s protection lawyer, Leslie Abramson, author Dominick Dunne and the backstory of José and Kitty.
“We have been additionally telling the story of the dad and mom, who they blew their heads off,” Ryan added. “We had an obligation to so many individuals, not simply to Erik and Lyle. However that’s what I discover so fascinating; that they’re enjoying the sufferer card proper now — ‘poor, pitiful us’ — which I discover reprehensible and disgusting.”
In the event you or anybody has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A skilled workers member will present confidential, judgment-free help in addition to native sources to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
