As I delve into the lives of these individuals entangled in such a web of tragedy and controversy, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of empathy for them. Life, as they say, is a series of moments that define us, yet it’s the totality of our experiences that truly shape who we are.
Lyle Menendez expressed his feelings in 2018, saying, “I broke down in tears. I had to travel a great distance to find him…when he arrived in a van, I could finally see him being taken out and we could meet for the first time after so many years. I wasn’t certain how I would respond.”
He shared with DailyMailTV that he suddenly experienced a surge of adrenaline, leading him to break into tears. It was a deeply emotional experience, he added, one that was truly moving and delightful, just as one would anticipate.
Eventually, Lyle’s repeated requests for a transfer were approved in February, and exactly two months later, he was relocated to share a housing unit with Erik at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, which is located in the southern part of San Diego County.
Lyle expressed, “I’m not certain if I truly overcame the impact of [the separation], but being reunited feels like a healed wound. It has been 25 years since the trials; I believe that’s plenty of time.”
Until their separation in 1996 (which they believed could be permanent), the siblings emphasized that they had only one another.
Apart from their traditional fanbase, they also garner a following on TikTok, primarily made up of younger enthusiasts. These fans stumbled upon Lyle, aged 56, and Erik, 53, online, and have since begun creating videos where they sing or lip-sync songs like Britney Spears’ “Criminal”. Their videos often express their admiration and affection for the trial-era version of Erik.
Taylor Lorenz, a technology reporter for The New York Times, noted on a 2021 episode of 20/20 that many children are revisiting Court TV, viewing how events were depicted, but with a new perspective and distinct values. In simpler terms, she observed that kids are re-examining court cases from the past while seeing them through fresh eyes and holding different moral standards.
Another installment focusing on the Menendez brothers is set to premiere on September 19th. This time, Ryan Murphy’s Netflix anthology, titled “Monster”, is delving into the murder of their parents, serving as a continuation from its Emmy-winning initial season that explored the story of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Despite the fact that Erik and Lyle had supporters who were similar to them in the past, regardless of their actions or motives.
Around 10 p.m. on August 20, 1989, they carried out a tragic act by fatally shooting their parents in the Menendez family’s Mediterranean-style mansion located on Elm Drive in Beverly Hills, a property that had previously been leased by celebrities such as Prince and Elton John before being purchased by Jose Menendez and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez less than a year prior to the murders.
Jose, a 45-year-old entertainment industry professional, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head from a 12-gauge shotgun. The incident occurred while he was in the living room with his wife Kitty, aged 47, who had been married to him for 26 years. They were both watching a movie at the time. Tragically, Kitty was discovered in a pool of blood in the hallway, having been shot in her arms, chest, and face, as well as her kneecaps. Both victims sustained similar injuries to their knees.
The siblings hopped into their vehicle, concealed the firearms at a secluded spot along Mulholland Drive, and discarded the empty gun cartridges and soiled clothing in a trash bin at a gas station. They purchased cinema tickets in Century City for a movie they didn’t watch, then ventured to Santa Monica in search of one of Lyle’s acquaintances who could vouch for them; unfortunately, they couldn’t locate the individual, so they returned home.
11:47 pm saw a distraught 21-year-old named Lyle dialing 911, tearfully telling the operator, “Someone has murdered my parents!”
Instead of admitting to police that they watched the new Bond movie, “License to Kill,” due to a long line, the Menendez brothers claimed they saw “Batman” instead. Following this, they stated they attended the annual “Taste of L.A.” festival in Santa Monica and eventually returned home, only to discover their parents deceased.
A bodyguard Lyle hired for about 10 days later testified that his client said his parents were “murdered by either the cartel or the mob and he was in fear for his life.”
After the tragic events occurred, Lyle – a Rolex-wearing graduate of an elite prep school with a past expulsion from Princeton for plagiarism – went back to New Jersey. There, he tried out a Porsche car (regarding the Alfa Romeo at home as a nuisance), shopped for new clothes, and even made a $300,000 down payment on a buffalo wing-specialized restaurant in Princeton, NJ, where both he and Erik were born. This was all done later that year.
At his parents’ funeral, as testified by his friend and college mate Glenn Stevens, Lyle remarked, “I’ve been anticipating this moment for so long that I’m ready for it.”
When Lyle dismissed the bodyguard, he informed him that his uncle from New York had given him the assurance that the mob was no longer targeting their family.
At this point, 18-year-old Erik engaged a personal tennis instructor, while the brothers enjoyed exploring Los Angeles in their late mother’s Mercedes convertible. Subsequently, they traveled to London and then to the Caribbean for a vacation. They temporarily rented a couple of penthouses in Marina del Rey, California.
It was subsequently claimed that the Menendez brothers spent approximately $1 million over a period of six months. (“I believe it’s not clear,” Lyle later attempted to clarify their extravagant spending to Barbara Walters. “People respond differently, to a traumatic event like that.”)
But the big break in the case came from Erik himself.
On Halloween, I found myself in a rather unsettling conversation with my client, Dr. Jerome Oziel. This younger sibling of mine confessed to him that he and his older brother Lyle had taken our parents’ lives. Later that day, Lyle also admitted his part in the tragic events. During our meeting on November 2nd, an exchange that left me feeling chilled to the bone, Lyle disclosed to Dr. Oziel that we had discussed ending his life as well – a revelation he shared during their subsequent encounter.
On October 31st, it was Oziel’s former girlfriend who ultimately informed the authorities about the situation. According to Oziel, when he returned home that evening, he shared some important matters with her.
Back in 1990, on March 8th, I was just a devoted fan eagerly following every move of my idol, Lyle. But then, the shocking news hit me – Lyle had been arrested! As fate would have it, I happened to be playing tennis in Israel at that very moment. Upon my return to Los Angeles three days later, I couldn’t help but surrender myself to the reality of the situation, feeling the weight of those events as if they were my own.
For years, the issue of doctor-patient privilege played a significant role in the case. A judge decided that Lyle’s threats against Oziel had breached the brothers’ right to confidentiality. The defense was initially granted an appeal, which was later overturned by the California State Supreme Court. However, they permitted Oziel’s recorded notes to be presented as evidence, but not their confessions themselves.
In December of 1992, Lyle and Erik Menendez were officially charged with first-degree murder. The Los Angeles County District Attorney announced their intention to impose capital punishment.
In this scenario, Leslie Abramson served as the chief defender for Erik, whereas Jill Lansing took on the role of the leading defense attorney for Lyle.
Two years prior to the O.J. Simpson murder trial that would later be known as the most sensationalized trial in history, triggering non-stop media attention and ushering in a new age for cable news, the initial murder trial of the Menendez brothers was broadcast extensively on Court TV, holding the nation’s fascination.
A prosperous Cuban immigrant who made his fortune himself, along with his glamorous wife, a former beauty queen, were allegedly murdered by their ungrateful children in the upscale neighborhood of Beverly Hills. This tragic incident bore the hallmarks of a sensational soap opera (later depicted in 1994 with Edward James Olmos and Beverly D’Angelo portraying Jose and Kitty).
The real twist came, however, when the defense revealed its case: Lyle and Erik had acted in self-defense after being sexually abused by their father for years. The brothers insisted they had feared for their lives.
In September 1993, Lyle stated under oath that both of his parents had sexually abused him. His father allegedly abused him when he was between the ages of 6 and 8. Kitty would bathe him and let him share her bed until he turned 13. After this, according to him, Kitty persistently bothered him and acted inappropriately. Lyle further claimed that his parents continued to physically abuse him well into his teenage years. Additionally, when he began dating, Kitty would disparage his girlfriends, calling them “gold diggers” and “bimbos.”
One of the most memorable pieces of testimony, one that made it into the TV movie, was Lyle’s recollection of Kitty ripping off his hair piece during an argument five days before the murder. He claimed that was the first time Erik saw him without his toupee, after which his younger brother cried and revealed to him that Jose was still sexually abusing him, Lyle testified. (An ex-girlfriend of Lyle’s, Jamie Pisarcik, would testify that Erik had talked about Lyle wearing a hairpiece much earlier that year. Pisarcik and Lyle reconciled after his parents were killed, but she ended it in December 1989 after finding out he and his brother were the killers, after which she sold a ring he’d given her and kept the cash. She also testified that when Lyle told her about the abuse in a phone call from jail, she said she didn’t believe him.)
In a court appearance, Lyle shared that he’d previously considered the incident as something typical for young boys like him. However, he and Erik decided it was time to address their father about the matter.
In response to him threatening to reveal Erik if Jose didn’t stay away, their father said, “‘Everyone makes decisions in life. Erik made his. You made yours.'” Lyle stated. The defendant further explained, “I believed we were in peril. I thought he had no other option but to protect us. He would kill us or find some other way to eliminate us because I was about to expose him and ruin him.”
Lyle explained that he didn’t trust the police to assist him since his father is a wealthy and influential man.
On August 20th night, Kitty informed them that they wouldn’t be going to the movies, and Jose instructed Lyle to stay in his room upstairs alone. Fearing that their parents intended to harm them, they decided to act preemptively according to Lyle’s testimony. They retrieved the shotguns from their vehicle, moved into the den, and began firing indiscriminately.
When asked why they didn’t admit their guilt immediately during the interview the following morning, Lyle explained that they had previously made a decision not to.
In private conversation, away from the jury, Ozriel shared that the brothers appeared extremely delighted by the thrill of successfully committing these… crimes undetected.
In August 1993, Oziel informed the jury that the brothers confided in him their intention to assassinate their father due to his controlling nature. However, they feared their mother would be a witness, so they also decided to eliminate her as well. It’s worth noting that earlier that July, the State Board of Psychology took steps to revoke Oziel’s license for secretly recording conversations and some other infractions regarding different patients.
According to Oziel’s testimony, the brothers believed they had pulled off an “impeccable” or “flawless” crime, since they claimed that they went outside again to reload their firearms while their mother attempted to escape by crawling away.
In the initial trial, the two sets of jurors heard the evidence against the brothers Erik and Lyle simultaneously, but independently. However, neither jury was able to reach a unanimous decision at the end of the first trial. They couldn’t agree on whether the brothers were cold-blooded murderers or victims of tragic abuse.
Following the initial trial, Abramson shared with journalists that the $14.5 million inheritance of Lyle and Erik had nearly vanished and appealed to compassionate individuals to contribute to the Erik Menendez Trial Defense Fund for the upcoming legal proceedings.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times in April 1994, probate records indicated that there was approximately $700,000 in liquid assets remaining, along with the family’s residence in Calabasas, a condominium in New Jersey, and various pieces of furniture and jewelry. Approximately $8 million was spent on taxes, maintenance, and mortgage payments for properties in Beverly Hills and Calabasas. Additionally, criminal defense costs totaled approximately $1.495 million at the time.
1995 saw me and countless others eagerly awaiting the resumption of the trial in August. Although this time around it seemed like the court was delving deeper into the gory crime scene, attempting to paint a vivid picture of their heinous acts, the proceedings felt more like a supporting act compared to the O.J. Simpson trial unfolding concurrently in town. It was hard not to be captivated by both events simultaneously.
In addition, Judge Stanley Weisberg prohibited the use of cameras in his courtroom in Van Nuys, denying the public a unique perspective on the second round. Erik gave testimony once more, however, Lyle chose not to.
At the conclusion of the second trial, on March 20, 1996, both Lyle and Erik were convicted for two counts each of first-degree murder with special circumstances, as well as conspiracy to commit murder. The jury chose not to impose a death sentence during the penalty phase, instead suggesting that they serve life imprisonment without any chance of parole.
Charles Gessler, the defense attorney, expressed Lyle’s sense of relief following the jury’s verdict since Lyle desires to carry on living.
In a positive light, I’d express it as: “Abramson mentioned that they are remarkable individuals who will undoubtedly discover a method to be beneficial and productive.” Furthermore, some of the jurors shared this belief, anticipating that they would both make a meaningful impact on society.
Lesley Hillings, a juror, shared with the LA Times after the trial that there were indications of psychological abuse to some degree, and most of us on the jury held this belief. As for sexual abuse, it seems we may never truly know the truth about that matter.
During the penalty stage, accusations of misconduct against Abramson emerged when a defense-hired psychiatrist alleged that she instructed him to omit certain details from his session notes. In 1999, she was found not guilty by the California Bar.
Following the fateful incident where they both fatally shot their parents and faced two trials together, with their lives on the line, the state of California decided to part the Menendez brothers. Erik was sent to Folsom State Prison (later moved to Pleasant Valley State Prison), while Lyle was relocated to Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
The last significant time the brothers appeared together was during an interview they conducted in prison, which was broadcast on June 28, 1996, mere days before their official sentencing. During this interview, Erik asserted, “I’m just like any ordinary kid,” to which Barbara Walters reacted with a hint of amusement.
Erik expressed his fear, stating, “I was petrified the jury might sentence either of us to death…It’s a terrifying thought.” On the other hand, Lyle emphasized that it was crucial for them to remain imprisoned together, explaining, “This has been our saving grace during these past six years and throughout our lives.”
Erik expressed regret, saying “What we did was terrible, and I wish I could change it. If we’re not placed in the same prison, I fear I may never see him again. There are some things that are unbearable to lose, and enduring everything else, that would be the final hardship.”
When questioned about the popular belief that he and his brother were simply spoiled brats, Erik responded, “I’m not like that, but I can’t refute it. Just because we come from a wealthy family doesn’t automatically mean we are spoiled.”
In my professional opinion, I’d be taken aback if anyone who attended the entire trial and witnessed it unfold in its entirety, instead of just catching glimpses through the news, didn’t share this sentiment.
As a lifestyle advisor, I find it deeply disheartening to recount my own experience whereby twelve significant individuals in my life played a pivotal role in my incarceration for an indeterminate period. In February 1998, an appellate court upheld the verdicts against me, and petitions for review were subsequently dismissed in May of that same year.
34 years after the murders, the case has resurfaced due to renewed accusations of sexual abuse against their father and a 1988 letter attributed to Erik that describes his brother’s abuse. This new evidence has sparked debate among legal experts as to whether there might be a way to release the brothers from prison.
In May 2023, lawyers submitted a habeas corpus petition for the brothers, claiming that Erik’s letter and Ray Rosselló’s rape allegation against Jose (as presented in the Peacock documentary “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed”) contradicted the trial’s assertion that their motivation was financial gain, not the accusations made.
The brothers’ submission, containing a statement by Rosselló, requested that the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office either conduct an investigative hearing or overturn the verdicts and sentences.
As someone deeply committed to this cause, I’d like to clarify that the incidents in question are considered manslaughter rather than murder. This is because they were instigated from an emotionally charged but irrational belief in self-defense, stemming from a lifetime of endured sexual and physical abuse.
Back in mid-July 2023, the District Attorney’s Office informed the Los Angeles Times that they were yet to complete their review of the case documents and would only present a reply to the judge after this process was done.
In 2017, Lyle expressed feeling a greater sense of “serenity” within prison walls, rather than when he was on the outside.
It’s astonishing to ponder…that I might have been part of ending someone else’s life, even my parents’, Lyle shared with ABC News over the phone from Mule Creek during their 2-hour special, Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers—American Sons, American Murderers. It feels impossible because it seems so unlike my character. However, I discovered that my own upbringing surprisingly equipped me to handle the tumult of prison existence.
He went on to say, “I am the one who took the life of my own parents, and no ocean of tears can alter that fact, nor can remorse undo it. I acknowledge it. You’re frequently labeled by a few pivotal moments in your life, but that’s not the entirety of who you are, understand. Your existence is the sum total of everything…You can’t rewrite history. All you can do is live with the consequences of your actions…I fear I will ultimately perish while still ensnared in this terrible ordeal and catastrophe.”
However, not everyone believes he’s a monster. Lyle married former model Anna Eriksson on July 2, 1996, the same day he was sentenced to life imprisonment; they divorced in 2011 following allegations of infidelity (he was said to have written letters to another woman). He later wed Rebecca Sneed in 2003.
By the way, California prohibits prisoners who have been convicted of murder or given a life sentence from having conjugal visits.
In June of 1999, Erik found love and got married to Tammi Ruth Saccoman, a woman who had been corresponding with him since his initial trial.
In an interview with People that year, Saccoman shared that abstaining from sexual relationships is challenging for him, but he considers it manageable. As the author of the 2005 book “They Said We’d Never Make It: My Life With Erik Menendez“, he admitted to being physically disconnected while emotionally bonded with Erik. His family finds this difficult to comprehend. When things started getting serious, some of them reacted with confusion and disbelief.
Erik said at the time that he didn’t feel he deserved to be in prison for the rest of his life.
“He stated back in 2005, with Saccoman by his side, that he wasn’t claiming his actions were right or excusable. Instead, he felt compelled to serve prison time. Yet, introduce another child into the mix and observe the outcome. He believed it was a matter of his life or his parents’. It seemed as though there was kerosene spilled on the floor, just waiting for a spark that could ignite at any moment. His very soul had been consumed by the flames.”
Erik expressed a sense of not deserving to be incarcerated, but he clarified that he continues to work on his appeal and remains uncertain about its success. He admitted that he isn’t sure if spending the rest of his life in prison is justified since he doesn’t feel he’s serving any meaningful purpose there. However, he mentioned that losing hope can be devastating and prefers not to dwell on such thoughts.
I’ve immersed myself in Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” no less than fifteen times, making it a part of my daily reading routine. Meditation is an integral aspect of my life, a practice I engage in every day. Over the past fourteen years, nurturing my spiritual bond with the Divine has been my unwavering pursuit.
During his first year in prison, however, he was too afraid to try to speak to God.
Erik expressed, “However, I was capable of conversing with my mom. She continued to care for me deeply. In this stage of forgiveness, I found it within myself to recognize and reconnect with my mother once more in my life.”
(A previous version of this story was originally published April 25, 2017, at 4 a.m. PT)
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2024-09-01 15:21