The infamous “Menendez brothers” case is now getting attention all over social media. They are known all around America for the story of their lives. They killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989. The brothers claim to have dealt with physical and sexual abuse by their father throughout their lives. It took two trials to convict the brothers of their parents’ murders, they were sentenced to life without parole. The case is going to be reviewed in the aftermath of renewed attention on their murder case. A new court hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez has been set for Nov. 29, 2024, nearly three decades after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
At the time of the murders, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18. Now, 56 and 53 the brothers are hoping to get a chance for others to understand the trauma they went through. With the release of the Netflix series ‘Monsters’, there has been a lot of backlash after Lyle criticized the show for its inaccuracy. He’s particularly frustrated that it doesn’t adequately explore the psychological impact of their trauma, instead opting for drama over a genuine understanding of their lives. Lyle worries that this portrayal could create further misconceptions surrounding their case, which is already complicated by the public perception. On October 7th, 2024, their documentary “The Menendez Brothers” premiered. The filmmakers spoke with the brothers from prison, numerous other family members, and people who appeared in the trial.
Family members of the Menendez brothers have started to speak out in support of Lyle and Erik, emphasizing the trauma they endured during their childhood. They argue that the brothers’ actions should be viewed in the context of the severe abuse they faced, rather than just as a crime motivated by greed. Some relatives believe that a deeper understanding of their experiences is necessary and advocate for their release. Some of the family members did participate in the past trials and have spoken about their experiences with the family. Jose Menendez’s sister Marta Cano who is the aunt and godmother to Lyle and Erik has had a lot to say about her knowledge of the family. She is the mother to Andy, who was a cousin of the brothers. Andy testified on behalf of Erik and stated when they were younger Erik told him that his father touched him inappropriately. Unfortunately, Andy passed away from an overdose on January 18, 2003. His mother discovered a letter in 2018 that Erik had written to Andy about the abuse. This can be another key piece of evidence.
Social media apps including TikTok have brought up public fascination regarding the brothers and their life story. Millbrook Senior, Zane Hamlett who has been interested in this case says, “I am eager to watch the documentary that features the brothers and to hear about what is going to happen moving forward. In my opinion they should be released from prison.” Celebrities have even given this case attention, Kim Kardashian visited the brothers in prison to discuss the recent events. She said “Their suffering and stories of abuse were ridiculed in skits on ‘Saturday Night Live’ that they were painted as “two arrogant, rich kids from Beverly Hills who killed their parents out of greed. There was no room for empathy, let alone sympathy.” Kardashian is advocating for the brothers and spreading awareness of the case. Attorney George Gascón spoke to Newsweek stating that the discovery of new evidence could offer the brothers a chance at justice.
Our society’s values and beliefs now are much different than how they were when this case occurred. The brothers testified that they killed their parents out of self-defense after facing a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from them. The attorneys have built their case around the abuse, they claim the brothers may not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in recent years due to the societal change. Modern juries are more likely to consider the complexities of trauma, including the idea that victims may react in ways that seem irrational to those outside their experiences. This evolving perspective could significantly impact how cases like the Menendez brothers’ are evaluated, potentially opening the door for a retrial or reconsideration of their sentences.
