Erik and Lyle Menendez VINCE BUCCI/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters elicited a divided response about how Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez‘s homicide trial was portrayed within the Netflix sequence — nevertheless it isn’t the one present that covers the controversial case.
After their dad and mom, José and Kitty Menéndez, had been murdered in 1989, Erik and Lyle turned the prime suspects. They had been arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree homicide every. What got here subsequent was two high-profile trials that had everybody weighing in on what prompted Erik and Lyle to kill their mom and father. The siblings, for his or her half, accused José and Kitty of bodily, emotional and sexual abuse.
Their first trial started in 1993 the place the brothers had been tried individually. The case resulted in a mistrial after the jury was unable to succeed in a unanimous resolution. A retrial started in 1995 however the prosecution efficiently objected to many of the proof surrounding the abuse which meant Erik and Lyle — who had been now being tried collectively — wanted to current a brand new protection.
Lyle refused to take the stand through the second trial to forestall cross examination following the discharge of The Personal Diary of Lyle Menendez: In His Personal Phrases! The Menendez brothers had been finally discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life with out parole in 1996. They proceed to attraction the choice and had been granted a brand new listening to for his or her case in October 2024 after the Los Angeles District Legal professional’s workplace cited new proof indicating that their father allegedly molested them. The Los Angeles District Legal professional’s workplace advisable later that month that Erik and Lyle’s sentence be decreased.
Netflix’s Monsters sequence is going through backlash for the way it depicted Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez — particularly inaccurate particulars concerning the occasions main as much as their homicide case. The restricted sequence, which was launched on September 19, centered round Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch), who had been convicted for the 1989 homicide of […]
Their case acquired renewed assist in September 2024 after turning into the main focus of Murphy’s Monsters sequence. Nicholas Alexander Chavez introduced Lyle to life whereas Erik was performed by Cooper Koch. José and Kitty, in the meantime, had been portrayed by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, respectively.
Monsters got here beneath fireplace for a number of scenes alluding to an incestuous relationship between Lyle and Erik. The youthful Menéndez brother publicly addressed the sequence when he slammed it in the future after it was launched.
“I believed we had moved past the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, making a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant within the present,” learn an announcement from Erik that was shared by way of Lyle’s Fb web page. “I can solely imagine they had been performed so on objective. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say, I imagine Ryan Murphy can’t be this naive and inaccurate concerning the info of our lives in order to do that with out dangerous intent.”
In response, Murphy urged the Menéndez brothers to look at the present earlier than forming an opinion.
“I believe it’s attention-grabbing that he’s issued an announcement with out having seen the present. It’s actually, actually exhausting — if it’s your life — to see your life up on display screen,” he shared with Leisure Tonight in September 2024. “In the event you watch the present, I might say 60 to 65 p.c [of the content centers] across the abuse and what they declare occurred to them. And we do it very rigorously and we give them their day in courtroom and so they speak brazenly about it.”
Viewers have ended up cut up on whether or not they assist how Monsters portrayed Erik and Lyle — nevertheless it isn’t the one undertaking concerning the case. Maintain scrolling for a information to a number of different TV exhibits and documentary specials that spotlight the Menéndez case:
‘Reality and Lies: The Menendez Brothers’ (Apple TV+)
ABC launched a particular in 2017 which examined the proof that doubtlessly pointed to what prompted Erik and Lyle to kill their dad and mom. Family and friends of the Menéndez brothers had been interviewed for Reality and Lies: The Menéndez Brothers greater than a decade after their sentencing.
‘The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All’ (Prime Video)
Whereas Erik has appeared within the public eye much less after beginning to serve out his time, he spoke with A&E for a five-part documentary. The conversations over a number of cellphone calls supplied Erik’s perspective on the murders and the aftermath.
The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All particular confirmed never-before-seen pictures and new interviews with prosecutors, legislation enforcement, family members and medical consultants concerning the case. Erik mentioned the data he gave to the docuseries was probably the most complete public dialog that he has had for the reason that crime made headlines.
Ramey Picture/Mega Company; Miles Crist/Netflix Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters acquired backlash for a mess of inaccuracies about Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez‘s homicide case — however what did the present truly get proper? Season 2 of the hit Netflix sequence, which was launched on September 19, featured a star-studded forged together with Nicholas Chavez, Cooper Koch, Javier […]
‘Legislation & Order: True Crime — The Menéndez Murders’ (Apple TV+ or Prime Video)
The eight-part particular was a derivative of the Legislation & Order franchise, which depicted the homicide, investigation, arrest and trials of the Menéndez brothers. Legislation & Order: True Crime – The Menéndez Murders forged Miles Gaston Villanueva to play Lyle, whereas Gus Halper was introduced on to carry Erik to life. Edie Falco earned an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of protection legal professional Leslie Abramso.
When the particular premiered in 2017, Lyle’s household and mates confirmed their assist. Lyle later spoke to Megyn Kelly and referred to as Legislation & Order: True Crime — The Menéndez Murders “surprisingly correct” though he didn’t seek the advice of on the present.
‘Menendez: Monsters or Misjudged?’ (Max and Discovery+)
In 2022, Menendez: Monsters or Misjudged? was launched as an examination of the assist the Menéndez brothers have gotten within the years for the reason that homicide. Eric Philips was forged to reenact sure scenes within the movie as Erik.
Erik and Lyle Menéndez‘s homicide case was thrust again into the highlight with Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters — and now there’s a likelihood their life with out parole sentence could possibly be decreased. The Menéndez brothers’ dad and mom, José and Kitty Menéndez, had been discovered useless at their Beverly Hills residence in 1989. After Lyle referred to as the police, they […]
‘Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed’ (Peacock)
Erik and Lyle Menendez Ted Soqui/Sygma by way of Getty Photographs
The 2023 Peacock docuseries supplied a platform for former Menudo member Roy Rosselló to handle his previous with Erik and Lyle’s father, José. Rosselló alleged he was drugged and raped when he was a teen by José. The accusations from the singer had been included in a petition filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court docket in an effort to overturn their case.
The courtroom paperwork requested a retrial whereas citing new proof within the case comparable to Rosselló’s allegations towards José and a newly found letter Erik wrote to his cousin Andy Cano describing his father’s alleged sexual abuse months earlier than the murders.
‘The Menendez Brothers’ (Netflix)
Lower than one week after Monsters was launched, Netflix introduced that Lyle and Erik had been interviewed for The Menéndez Brothers documentary. The particular, which is about to be launched in October 2024, consists of footage from conversations with juror Betty Oldfield, Kitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.
