The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, have been in the spotlight once again due to the release of a Netflix series called Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. They were convicted of killing their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, in 1989 at their Beverly Hills home when Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18. Following the crime, the brothers spent around $700,000 before being arrested in 1990.
During their trials, Lyle and Erik claimed that they had been abused by their parents for years, with allegations of their late father being sexually abusive and their mother struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism. The brothers are currently serving their sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California.
In 1996, Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. They were initially kept apart during their imprisonment, but in April 2018, they were reunited at the same facility. In 2023, their attorneys filed a petition to have their convictions overturned, citing new evidence that suggested they were acting in self-defense due to the ongoing abuse they suffered from their parents.
Despite the petition, the brothers remain incarcerated. In October 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing for Lyle and Erik, suggesting they be eligible for immediate parole if approved by the judge. Gascón emphasized that there is no excuse for murder, even in cases of abuse, and that seeking help is the right path.
Erik confessed to the murders during a therapy session with his psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, who was later informed by Oziel’s mistress, Judalon Smyth, leading to the brothers’ arrest.
While both Lyle and Erik are still in prison, they have managed to maintain relationships. Lyle, now 56, has been married twice while behind bars. His first marriage to Anna Eriksson ended in divorce in 2001, and he later married Rebecca Sneed in 2003. Erik, now 53, met his wife, Tammi Saccoman, through letters while in prison, and they have been married since 1999.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE for confidential support and resources. For individuals struggling with substance abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP offers assistance.
