Lyle and Erik Menendez proceed to serve life sentences in jail for the brutal murders of their dad and mom on August 20, 1989, when the brothers—then 21 and 18—shot and killed them of their household’s Beverly Hills mansion.
Now, 35 years later, the Menendez brothers are the newest topics of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan‘s Monster anthology collection. Titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the collection stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik, with Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny portraying their dad and mom, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
The 10-episode season intends to discover whether or not the siblings had been cold-blooded killers in search of to inherit their household’s fortune, because the prosecution argued, or victims of a lifetime of bodily, emotional, and sexual abuse by the hands of their dad and mom, because the protection claimed and the brothers keep to today.
Before delving into the brand new collection—now streaming on Netflix—right here’s extra concerning the Monster‘s real-life story and what led to the brothers’ arrest.
What Did the Menendez Brothers Do?
Lyle and Erik shot and killed their dad and mom in August 1989 with shotguns, firing a complete of 14 instances at their Beverly Hills residence. When police first investigated the crime scene, they initially suspected mob involvement as a result of excessive violence of the murders.
How Were the Menendez Brothers Caught?
After Jose and Kitty had been brutally shot to dying of their Beverly Hills mansion, Lyle and Erik Menendez spent cash recklessly, burning via an estimated $700,000 of their dad and mom’ wealth on vehicles, jewellery, and even buying eating places and cafes.
Although the brothers weren’t initially suspected, police acquired a tip from Judalon Smyth, the mistress of Erik’s psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel. Smyth revealed that Erik had confessed to the murders throughout a remedy session and that there have been audiotaped recordings of the confession. The brothers had been subsequently arrested in March 1990, resulting in a prolonged authorized battle over the admissibility of Dr. Oziel’s recordings. A decide ultimately dominated that the tapes may very well be used as proof, as Erik had allegedly threatened his physician, violating doctor-patient privilege.
“I by no means thought I believed in evil, however once I heard these boys communicate, I did,” Smyth instructed investigative journalist Dominic Dunne in 1990.
What Happened After Their Arrest?
In 1992, Erik and Lyle had been formally charged with the murders of their dad and mom, and their 1993 trial grew to become nationwide information. During the trial, each brothers claimed they killed their dad and mom after enduring years of abuse. They accused their late father of sexual abuse and their late mom of alcoholism and drug habit.
Their first trial, which started in 1993, led to a deadlocked jury. In the second trial, the decide restricted testimony concerning the alleged abuse and barred the jury from contemplating manslaughter prices as an alternative of homicide. Both brothers had been convicted on two counts of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole.
If you or anybody you already know has been sexually abused, name the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A skilled employees member will present confidential, judgment-free help in addition to native sources to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
If you or somebody you already know is battling substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).