Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of abuse and murder. Readers’ discretion is advised.
The Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without a chance for parole in March 1996. Erik and Lyle Menendez were held guilty of killing their parents in August 1989. Although the brothers claimed that they had found their parents dead when they returned home one night, the investigation proved that they killed their parents, Jose Menendez and Mary Louise.
In 1993, after the murder trial had begun. The Menendez brothers confessed to killing their parents but revealed that they did it after years of sexual abuse perpetrated by them. The prosecution argued that Lyle and Erik were after the inheritance that their parents’ deaths would subsequently leave them. The central evidence in the case, however, was the confession that the brothers made to a therapist.
In their account to the therapist, the brothers claimed that they had killed their mother to “put her out of her misery.” They didn’t mention the abuse in their confession at any point. This makes it tricky to establish whether or not the abuse had occurred. The Menendez brothers would allegedly gain access to their parents’ inheritance of $14 million, which was seen to be a major motive for the crime.
According to a report by the LA Times, the initial trial of the Menendez brothers triggered nationwide conversations about parental abuse and children’s safety within the home. The controversy around the case made it one of the most popular true crime stories in American history. In May 2023, CNN reported that the court found Jose Menendez to have been sexually abusing his sons even as late as 1988.
How old were the Menendez Brothers when they were found guilty?
Erik and Lyle Menendez were 18 and 21 years old, respectively, when their parents were found dead. The conviction only happened 7 years later when the Menendez brothers were 25 and 28, respectively. The brothers reportedly purchased shotguns on August 18, 1989, a couple of days before the murder. Mary and Jose were shot to death in their residence on August 20, 1989.
Erik and Lyle called 911 and claimed that they found their parents dead when they reached home. However, investigators found that the Menendez brothers were living a fairly lavish life after the death of their parents. They were spending their newly inherited money without any constraints. Additionally, authorities found a screenplay written by Erik. It was about a man who kills his parents to inherit $157 million, making suspicions stronger.
Finally, it was the Menendez brothers’ confession to their therapist, Oziel, that led to the allegations and subsequent conviction. Lyle claimed to have confronted his father about the abuse on August 17, 1989. Erik explained that their father also threatened him with physical abuse and even weapons when he refused to stand the sexual abuse. Several relatives and people close to the family claimed that Jose was an extremely controlling father. The Menendez brothers also allegedly had a tough time living up to their father’s expectations.
‘Suburban Nightmare: The Menendez Brothers’ is a documentary that explores the crimes and convictions of the Menendez brothers. It was released in September 2022. Netflix announced a feature titled, ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, ‘which is about the crimes and convictions of the Menendez brothers. Netflix announced a feature titled ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ which is a feature about the brothers. The production of the show is likely to conclude in 2024.
