Erik Menendez and Lyle Menendez, collectively known as the Menendez Brothers, have been in prison for more than three decades for killing their parents. Even though the brothers never denied killing their parents, their case still continues to captivate the public till date. In 1998, the brothers fatally shot their wealthy parents Jose and Mary Louise ‘Kitty’ Menendez in their Beverly Hills home. Their highly publicised trails that went on for years ended with both brothers being sentenced to life in prison. The Menendez brothers have always wanted to share their point of view on why they murdered their parents. They continue to claim that conducting a more thorough examination of their family’s background can help explain why they committed such an act. Netflix and Ryan Murphy Announce Release Date for 'Monster' Season 2.

The focus of the case has never been on whether the brothers murdered their parents or not. The focus has always been on the why. Why did the brothers murder their parents? Recently, a Netflix show titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, inspired by the brothers, dives deep into their lives and the events that took place on that fatal day. The show gives viewers an opportunity to understand the case from different perspectives and think about what probably made the brothers do what they did.

Who are the Menendez Brothers?

Joseph Lyle Menendez, who goes by his middle name Lyle, and his brother Erik Galen Menendez were born into an affluent family. Lyle Menendez was born on January 10, 1968 and Erik Menendez was born on November 27, 1970. Their father, Jose Menendez, was a successful businessman, and their mother, Marie Louise Menendez, was a homemaker. The family often moved to different locations and cities during the brothers’ childhood. Both Erik and Lyle attended private schools, including Princeton Day School.

Why Did The Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents?

On the evening of August 20, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered in the Beverly Hills home. Their sons Erik and Lyle Menendez were later arrested and charged with their murders. They were arrested after the girlfriend of a psychologist who had counselled Erik and Lyle revealed that they had admitted to committing the crimes and that there was an audio recording of their confessions. After this revelation, Lyle Menendez was arrested on March 8, 1990, while his brother Erik Menendez surrendered to authorities after he returned from Israel. The brothers were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

In their statements, the brothers never denied killing their parents. They always maintained that they murdered their parents as an act of self-defence. The brothers alleged that they suffered years of physical and emotional abuse from their parents, especially their father. They claimed that their father abused Lyle and stopped when he turned eight. He then started abusing Erik, who was only six at the time. This led to them committing the murders. However, prosecutors stated that the brothers are lying and that they killed their parents for financial reasons. They claimed that the main reason for the murders was their parents’ wealth, which the brothers aimed to obtain. Kim Kardashian Calls for Release of Controversial Menendez Brothers Post Prison Visit.

Now new evidence has surfaced in their case. A letter written by Erik Menendez has been made public. In the letter, Erik describes the sexual abuse he suffered from his father. This new evidence has again reignited people’s interest in their case. The evidence could also lead to a review of the case and change or reduce their sentences.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2024 11:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).