Lyle and Erik Menéndez
Joseph Lyle Menéndez (born January 10, 1968) and Erik Galen Menéndez (born November 27, 1970), are American brothers and convicted murderers. They were both convicted for first-degree murder after they killed their parents José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menéndez in 1989.
Lyle and Erik Menéndez | |
|---|---|
 Lyle (left) and Erik (right) mugshots in 2023 | |
| Born |
|
| Criminal status | Both are incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility |
| Conviction(s) | First-degree murder, conspiracy to murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life in prison without the possibility of parole (both) |
Murder
changeOn August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik entered their mansion and shot their parents to death while they were watching television. They used 12-gauge shotguns; shooting their father José six times and their mother Mary ten times.[1] After the murders, the brothers would answer police questions and tell them that they went to a movie theatre to see Batman and attended the "Taste of L.A." festival. They would spend a lot of money on expensive luxury items and vacationed in many different countries.[2][3]
The brothers would eventually be caught after Erik confessed to the murders to his psychologist.[4] Lyle would be arrested first on March 8, 1990 and Erik would later turn himself into police on March 11 after arriving in Los Angeles from Israel.[5]
Trials
changeThe first trial happened in 1993 and was very popular on television channel CourtTV at the time.[6]
Their lawyer Leslie Abramson said that their father José was a pedophile that was both mentally and sexually abusive towards them. Abramson also said their mother was an alcoholic, drug addicted enabler and that these factors were why the Menendez brother murdered their parents. Two cousins Andy Cano and Diane Vander Molen both supported the claims.[7][8]
The lawyer for the prosecution said that Lyle and Erik murdered their parents for financial gain and their parent's large inheritance.[9]
The jury would deadlock twice and it was announced that the brothers would be retried. In the second trial, the claims of sexual abuse were only allowed limited testimony by Judge Stanley Weisberg. The jury was also not allowed to vote for charges of manslaughter instead of murder.[10] On July 2, 1996, The second trial would end with the judge convicting Lyle and Erik Menéndez of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder. They would end up being sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.[11]
They were both separated and sent to two different prisons. On April 4, 2018, the two were reunited for the first time in 20 years when Lyle was moved to the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego where Erik was incarcerated.[12]
On October 24, 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced that he was asking the court to resentence the case.[13]
References
change- ↑ "A Beverly Hills Paradise Lost". People. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "This Menendez Brothers Murder Map Puts the Crazy Story in Perspective". E!. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "How Two Murderers Were Spotted on an Old Mark Jackson Trading Card". Slam. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Menendez Therapist's Ex-Lover Testifies: Trial: She says Oziel wanted the brothers to confess on tape so he could 'control' them. Calls that the woman secretly recorded of the stormy affair are also played in court". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "How Did the Menendez Brothers Get Caught? Why Erik's Private Therapy Confession Led to Their Arrest and Conviction". People. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Confessions of a Court TV Addict". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Do Lyle and Erik Menendez's Relatives Believe in Their Innocence?". Town & Country. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Lyle and Erik Menendez's Cousin Who Testified About Their Sexual Abuse Speaks Out for 1st Time". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Lyle and Erik Menendez's Cousin Who Testified About Their Sexual Abuse Speaks Out for 1st Time". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Legal Loophole Could Give Murderous Brothers Erik And Lyle Menendez Chance For New Trial". CBS News Los Angeles. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Menendez Brothers Sentenced to Life in Prison". The New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Menendez brothers burst into tears during emotional prison reunion after decades apart". ABC News. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ↑ "Menendez brothers should be resentenced, Los Angeles County DA recommends". CBS News. Retrieved October 25, 2024.