Few criminal cases have captured America’s attention quite like the Menendez brothers’ murder trial. What began as a shocking double homicide in an affluent Beverly Hills neighborhood would turn into one of the most controversial cases in modern legal history.
On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menéndez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” in their Beverly Hills mansion. The attack was brutal; Jose and Mary Louise Menéndez were nearly unidentifiable, killed by two 12-gauge shotguns that fired 15 rounds.
The police were notified by Erik and Lyle, who claimed they had gone out to see a movie but had stopped back at the house to retrieve Erik’s ID. When the brothers arrived home, they found the bodies of their parents and called the police.
The case began to unravel when Erik began seeing therapist, Dr. Oziel, eventually confessing to the murder of his parents on tape. Now with the taped confession, Oziel confided in Judalon Smyth, whom he was having an affair with. Smyth turned to the police to report the confessions of the Menendez brothers after allegedly being attacked by Oziel.
Lyle Menedez was arrested on March 8, 1990, and Erik Menendez turned himself in 3 days later after returning from a tennis tournament in Israel.
It took two years to decide whether the confessions were protected under doctor-patient privilege, or if they were able to be used in court. Eventually, the California Supreme Court declared that the taped confessions were valid for trial.
Beginning in 1993, the televised trials, resulted in a national obsession with the Menendez case. The trial was popular among the public due to the dramatic nature of the case: a scandalous murder and two conventionally attractive young men.
While on the stand, the brothers claimed that they had acted in self-defense. The brothers alleged that their father had sexually abused them for years, backing the claim with graphic details and descriptions, sending the nation into shock. Lyle testified that he had confronted his father about the abuse days before the murders. When faced with an angry response, Lyle took this as a death threat, furthering their argument of self-defense.
Despite support from some friends and family, both Lyle and Erik were convicted on March 21, 1996, of two counts of first-degree murder. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
However, the Menendez brothers’ case is back up for review in 2024. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón stated that his office is reviewing the case, specifically focusing on the brothers’ sexual abuse claims against their father.
Journalist Robert Rand, who had written a book on the brothers’ case, exposed a letter written by Erik Menedez detailing the specific acts of abuse by his father, Jose.
With the release of the Netflix adaptation, “Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, the case has received even more publicity, giving rise to opinions regarding the accuracy of the show. According to the New York Times, the show has been “assailed by Erik Menendez” and was described as “grotesque and riddled with falsehoods” by members of the Menendez family. Gascón also recognized that the drama brought on by the series has resulted in a number of calls to his office about the case.
The ongoing review by the LA District Attorney’s office suggests that even after three decades, the outcome of this case has not yet been fully determined.
