Its their theatricality that has made the Menendez men so infamous, their flare for courtroom drama and off-putting outfits, and the brazen nature of their behavior between the murder and their arrests. Erik bought a Rolex too, and clothes, and lost thousands of dollars gambling. Leads ran dry, until months later, in March 1990, when a woman named Judalon Smyth went to detectives. Lyle and Erik Menendez's Cousin Who Testified About Their - ABC News It also features him visiting former Menudo associatesNew York Post photojournalist and Menudo merchandise distributor Bolvar Arellano; recently deceased Menudo member Ray Reyes brother Raul; the bands record producer and composer Papo Gely; and ex-Menudo star Ash Ruizwho all validate his experiences in different ways. The mere appearance of host John Malkovich wearing the royal blue sweater on the stand was enough shorthand for a studio audience to begin laughing. Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave the courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., after a judge ruled that conversations between the two brothers and their psychologist were admissible as evidence; The gravesite of Jose and Kitty Menendez, still serving their life sentences miles apart to this day, eight-hour NBC mini-series starring Emmy winner Edie Falco, Both have gotten married while behind bars. They believed, "honestly though mistakenly," according to the newspaper, that their parents were going to kill them if they did not act. While completing his degree in accounting at Queens College, Jose washed dishes at the Manhattan restaurant 21. Erik Menendez holds a get well card he received from a fan. Pointing to a picture of Jose in the preview, To learn more about the case and all of its key players, watch Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, premiering May 2 on. In the special . Still, such notions are undermined by the sense that Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed is deliberately avoiding a comprehensive reexamination of the case. Joseph Lyle Menndez (born January 10, 1968) and Erik Galen Menndez (born November 27, 1970) are American brothers who were convicted in 1996 of the murders of their parents, Jos and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menndez.. During the trial, the brothers stated that they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual . The boys' father, Jose Menendez immigrated from Cuba when he was 16, and worked his way up in corporate America to become an extremely wealthy business man, and eventually the CEO of LIVE Entertainment. Menendez Brothers: Everything You Need to Know - Rolling Stone Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 of murdering their mother, Mary Louise, a former beauty queen who went by Kitty, and their father, Jose, a music executive, despite defense arguments. She became interested in the case after seeing footage of TikTok. He lived with a cousin in Pennsylvania before winning an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. You can see more of her writing at kaitlinmenza.com. It was the first business under the umbrella of a company Lyle called Menendez Investment Enterprises. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the double murder. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. After the verdict in their final trial and before their sentencing, the brothers sat down with Barbara Walters for one final interview. Why Did The Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents? | Crime News I still believe that the Menendez brothers did what they did out of fear because they felt that they were gonna be killed, said Delahunt. Their slain father Jose had been born in Cuba and fled during the revolution. In 1988, after getting caught in a string of burglaries, Erik was required by the court to meet with a therapist named Dr. Jerome Oziel. Lyle showed promise as an up-and-coming tennis athlete, while Erik had aspirations of getting into politics. If you were born before 1980, you probably know all about Lyle and Erik Menendez the brothers arrested and charged in 1990 with the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary "Kitty" Menendez. Simpson, Caylee Anthony, the Zodiac Killer, and the Black Dahliathere is no mystery around the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez. When the trial began in the summer of 1993, the Menendez brothers put on a spirited defense. His first wife was a former model; his current wife, Rebecca Sneed, is a magazine editor-turned-attorney. What We Know About The Future of Oliver Stark's Character, Egyptian Government Says Cleopatra Had "White Skin" In Response To Netflix Documentary Casting Controversy, Nick Cannon Rejoices in Cancellation of Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk: That Table Was Toxic, 'Citadel' on Prime Video Review: Sleek, Sexy Storytelling Elevates This Shamelessly Fun Spy Drama, James Corden Gets Hit by a Car While Yelling "I'm a Star" in Final 'Crosswalk the Musical'. Jos allegedly threatened to kill their sons to keep the truth from getting out, according to the brothers testimonies. They testified that they feared for their lives, after being subjected to years of sexual and physical abuse. Who was missing woman Kim Mason and how did she die? Lyle and Erik Menendez claimed that they killed their parents in 1989 because they feared for their safety following a lifetime of sexual abuse perpetrated by their father, Jos, an RCA Records executive, and condoned by their mother, Kitty. Lyle and Erik confessed to buying the shotguns on Aug. 18, 1989 just two days before the murders in case they needed them for protection. Where are the Menendez Brothers now? Whereabouts explored ahead of The True Story of Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents The upcoming Netflix doc could possibly reveal some new insights from the brothers over 30 years later. When Walters called them spoiled, Erik protested, Im just a normal kid.. Their adjoining apartments had ample room for parties and movie nights with friends. Justice was served, Det. In 1980, he became head of the companys record division, RCA-Ariola. PeacockLyle and Erik Menendez claimed that they killed their parents in 1989 because they feared for their safety following a lifetime of sexual abuse perpetrated by their father, Jos, an RCA Records executive, and condoned by their mother, Kitty. You couldnt escape it.. Despite their requests to be placed in the same prison, the Menendez brothers were separated and are still serving their life sentences miles apart to this day. The brothers underwent highly publicized trials. The therapist reached out to Erik soon after the murders and began meeting with the younger Menendez brother, and soon enough, Erik confessed to killing his parents. Previously, the Menendez brothers were jailed at separate prisons. At the heart of the trial wasnt whether the brothers killed their parents but whether they should be charged with murder or manslaughter. Their sons Lyle and Erik, who were 21 and 18 respectively at the time of the killings, also seemed like the platonic ideal of the Reagan era United States. The infamous 1989 double murder case is back in the spotlight thanks to a shocking new rape allegation revealed in Peacock's "Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.". Alongside Roys own sincere commentary, their testimony (including Rauls admission that he once saw Roy and Diaz in bed together, naked) is shocking and persuasive. Why did Lyle and Erik Menendez kill their parents? | The Sun Succession Features in Rupert Murdoch's Divorce, Rupert Murdoch Is Not Getting Married Again, Behold: Signature Poses of Your Favorite Royals. He lived with a cousin in Pennsylvania before winning an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Who Are The Menendez Brothers? Facts About Famous Killer Siblings The Menendez brothers are each currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on August 20, 1989. The 55-year-old criminal and his 52-year-old brother were just 21 and 19, respectively, when they brutally murdered their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion on . Born in Cuba to well-to-do business people and star athletes, Jose was 16 when his parents sent him to the U.S. in the late 1950s. Lyle and Erik Menendez cited emotional and physical abuse, among other reasons, for the gruesome 1989 killing of their mother and father. He would work his children to the bone in athletics, especially tennis, and everything else, reported Biography. But ultimately, Bloom had an alibi, and detectives were back to ground zero. Jose set high goals for himself and his sons. After their arrest in 1990 and a second trial in 1996, the Menendez brothers became notorious media sensations. Get them out of prison, she told The Times. Peacocks docuseries basically assumes that same viewpoint, sometimes to a fault, skimming past discussions of the prosecutions case against Lyle and Erik (other than to say that they were portrayed by the district attorney as greedy rich kids) in order to avoid addressing any complicating (i.e., less flattering) details, and to guarantee that they come across as railroaded innocents. Ex-Member of Menudo Says He Was Raped by Father of the Menendez Brothers Finally, the Supreme Court of California ruled that two of the three tapes were eligible to be used in the trial, including one that contained Lyles admission of guilt. Figuring out whether the tapes with the confessions fell under doctor-patient privilege or were admissible as evidence in court took two full years, with lawsuits and appeals flying back and forth between the prosecution and the Menendezs lawyers. The Menendez Brothers' Parents Were Always a Source of Contention In emotional testimonies, both brothers spoke about how their father Jose Menendez raped and abused them. The judge declared mistrials. From the events leading to that night to the media-fueled . A Bombshell Docuseries Makes the Case for Menendez Brothers' Innocence Ex-Menudo Singer Says He Was Raped by Father of Menendez Brothers Their late mother's brother, Brian Andersen, dismissed the idea that their mother did anything wrong, telling ABC News, "The idea that Erik and Lyle were abused by my sister Kitty is absolute. Right? hammered Deputy District Attorney Pamela Bozanich while Lyle was on the stand during his first trial. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. On August 20, 1989, the brothers brutally shot their parents multiple times in the den of their $5 million dollar family home in Beverly Hills, where they staged the murders to look like a mob hit. "I Wish Life Had Turned Out Differently for Them": Childhood Friend of Menendez Brother Speaks Out. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. It wasnt until April 17, 1996, that a third and final jury found the brothers guilty together. The It List: Menudo docuseries makes the case for Menendez brothers They were kept in separate prisons and did not reunite until 2018 after having served almost 22 years of their life prison sentences. 5 Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez Credit: AP:Associated Press Why did Lyle and Erik Menendez kill their parents? Im not 90 percent sure; Im 100 percent sure., How could she be so confident? He worked as an executive for RCA Records at one point, and later got a job with the film company LIVE Entertainment. Jose was also protective of the family name. In 1996, Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of the murder of their parents, Jos and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menndez. , and early investigations focused on that possibility. READ MORE: Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parentsa Look Inside Their Murder Case. On August 18, 1989, Eric and Lyle Menendez purchased shotguns at a Big 5 Sporting Goods chain store in San Diego over a hundred miles away from their familys mansion in Beverly Hills. Thomas Edmonds told Blood & Money, airing Saturdays at 9/8c on Oxygen. So, it was strictly a hit. Ignoring his own ethical responsibilities, Dr. Oziel taped the sessions with his new patient in an apparent attempt to impress his mistress. . Edmonds. The case especially gained attention as the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Im not going to live my life for my father, but I think his dreams are what I want to achieve.

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