In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents at their home in Beverly Hills. At the time, the brothers were 21 and 18 years old. Their parents, entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, were killed in a shocking crime that initially led investigators to suspect organized crime. However, the focus later shifted to the brothers, with prosecutors alleging that greed was the motive behind the killings. The defense countered that the brothers had endured years of abuse.
The case has garnered renewed attention with the release of a new Netflix series titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which debuted on the platform Thursday. This anthology series is created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.
The cast of the Netflix series includes Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez and Chloe Sevigny as Kitty Menendez. Nicholas Chavez plays Lyle Menendez while Cooper Koch takes on the role of Erik Menendez.
The Menendez brothers were apprehended after authorities received a tip about Erik’s confession during therapy sessions, which were recorded. Their extravagant spending following their parents’ deaths also raised suspicions.
On March 10, 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, having been tried separately. The brothers alleged that their father sexually abused them from a young age, and claimed that their mother was complicit in the abuse.
Currently, Lyle and Erik Menendez are serving their sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California.