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Erik and Lyle MenéndezMurder case was pushed back to the magnifying glass with Ryan Murphy‘S. Monsters – And now they could walk freely after years behind bars.
The parents of the Menéndez brothers, José and Kitty Menéndezfound dead at their home Beverly Hills in 1989. After Lyle called the police, they discovered that José was shot six times and Kitty was shot 10 times. Lyle and Erik were not initially interested but they were arrested a year later after their sessions recorded therapist where they confessed to the murders.
During their high profile trial, the brothers accused their parents, José and Kitty, of alleged physical, emotional and sexual abuse that Erik and Lyle were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without a parole in 1996.
Episodes of Law and order, fresh prince of a word and The sopranos He mentioned the case in the ’90s. The Menéndez brothers were also referred to several times On the drama fx The people v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story In 2016, he produced the Murphy Executive. (As well as MonstersMurphy is also about the American Story Franchise.)
Netflix’s Monsters series faces a backlash about how he depicted Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez – specifically incorrect details of the events leading up to their murder case. The limited series, released on September 19, focused around Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch), convicted of the 1989 murder of (…)
At the 35th anniversary of the deaths of José and Kitty, a special NBC released eight episodes in 2017 called Law and Order: True Crime – Menéndez Murders. Murphy took the case for season 2 of Monsterswho starred Nicholas chavez and Cooper Koch Like Lyle and Erik, respectively. After the limited series made headlines, the support for the Menéndez brothers re -faced in the middle of their efforts to appeal their sentence.
The Los Angeles District Attorney Office in October 2024 recommended that Erik and Lyle’s sentence be reduced because of new evidence indicating that their father claimed to have been molesty. Once Nathan Hochman It took over a month later, however, the recommendation was left in the air. A judge officially reset them in May 2025 to 50 years, which made them eligible for parole.
Keep scrolling for an analysis of their appealing efforts over the years:
What were Erik and Lyle’s original sentences?
Lyle and Erik were arrested in 1990 on two counts of first degree murder each. Three years later, the brothers were tested separately as they claimed that years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse had caused them to shoot their mother and father.
The case ended in abuse after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision. Retria started in 1995, but most of the evidence relating to the abuse could not be used as a defense. Erik and Lyle – who were now being tried together – were ultimately found guilty of first degree murder. Jurors discussed between life without parole or the death sentence before choosing the first in 1996.
After staying in the same prison initially, Erik and Lyle were transferred after sentencing. Lyle was taken to Mule Creek prison while Erik moved around from Folsom prison to Pleasant Valley Prison.
They reunited in 2018 when they were moved to the same housing unit in Richard J. Donovan’s corrective facility. That was their first reunion since they started their sentences nearly two decades before.
Ramey Photo/Mega Agency; Miles Christ/Netflix Ryan Murphy’s Monsters received a host for a host of errors for the murder case of Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez – but what got the show really right? Season 2 of the popular Netflix series, released on September 19, included a star -studded cast including Nicholas Chavez, Cooper Koch, Javier (…)
How many appeal efforts have taken place?
The Californian Court of Appeal confirmed Llyle and Erik’s murder convictions in 1998 and the Supreme Court of California refused to review the case later the same year. The two brothers Menendez filed the petitions of Habeas Corpus with the Supreme California Court in 1999, which was rejected. They filed the same petitions in the US District Court and was rejected in 2003.
The Erik and Lyle Defense Team decided to appeal to the US Court of Appeal for the ninth circuit, which led to another denial in 2005.
What inspired the latest application for re -assembly?
In 2023, Peacock released Docuseries called Menéndez + Beth: Betlayed Boysa singer’s place Roy Roussillon He claimed he had his drugs and raped when he was a teenager by Erik and Lyle’s father, José. The allegations of a former Menudo band member were included in a petition filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court.
The court documents asked for re -assembled in identifying new evidence in the case as Rosselló’s claims against José and a new letter discovered by Erik to his cousin Andy cano description His father’s alleged sexual abuse Months before the murders.
“No one had looked at the effects (personal cousin) until 2015, which is when it was found, 10 years after our last appeal,” Erik and Lyle Post-Previous Attorney Mark Geragos said in a statement to People In September 2024. “We say the second trial did not accompany constitutional defenses for various reasons. And Habeas (Corpus Petition) has new evidence. He needs new evidence because this case has been in Moribund basically for nearly 17 years.”
Geragos broke down the Three potential consequences of the application.
“The judge may deny it, the judge may order the NC to respond, or the judge may do what he did, who issued an order to the FC responding informally, which they have taken seriously over the last 15 months because we have presented them with evidence,” he continued. “(We provided statements from 24 family members who) all asked to be re -induced, present a number of other documents and evidence for them to look at and consider when making a decision.”
The story of Monsters Netflix: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez worked hard to make the cast similar to its real life counterparts. The limited 10-episode series, which will be released on September 19, follows Lyle and Erik Menéndez, convicted of the murder of their parents in 1989. The brothers and sisters admitted to the crime and claimed to have killed (…)
What is the Current Retrial Application Update?
Erik (l) and Lyle (r) menendez
Kim Kulish/AFP via Getty ImagesA spokesman for the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney released a statement on how the office “investigates the claims submitted in the petition.”
“The matter is pending to file an informal response, which is due to be on September 26 at present, 2024,” said the District Attorney’s Office People.
That same month Netflix announced that Lyle and Erik interview them for The Menéndez brothers Documentary. The special, which is about to be released in October 2024, includes pictures of conversations with a jurist Betty OldfieldKitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.
“Everyone asks why we killed our parents,” said Lyle in the trailer using an audio interview from prison. “Perhaps now people can understand the truth.”
Erik added: “What happened that night is well known but not so much has been said.
Erik and Lyle were heard a new hearing for their case a month later after the Los Angeles District Attorney Office noted new evidence indicating that their father claimed to have been molesty. The Los Angeles District Attorney Office recommended in October 2024 that Erik and Lyle sentences be reduced.
Hochman walked back though when he became a next area attorney. In March 2025, Hochman’s office withdrew her application to reduce the sentences based on the brothers who are alleged to have shown full insight into their crimes. Erik and Lyle were still re -appointed two months later to 50 years, which could make them eligible for parole after going through the process.
