Lyle and Erik Menendez

"The Menendez Brothers" redirects here. For the documentary, see The Menendez Brothers (film).

Lyle and Erik Menendez
Mugshots of Lyle and Erik, two middle-aged white men.
Mug shots of Lyle (left) and Erik (right) Menendez taken in 2023
Born
Alma materLyle: University of California, Irvine (BA)
Criminal statusIncarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (both)[1][2]
Spouses
  • Lyle:
    • Anna Eriksson
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1996; div. 2001)​
    • Rebecca Sneed
      ​
      (m. 2003)​
  • Erik:
    Tammi Saccoman
    ​
    (m. 1999)​
Parent(s)José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez
Conviction(s)First-degree murder, conspiracy to murder
Criminal penaltyLife in prison without the possibility of parole (both)
Details
VictimsJosé and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez
DateAugust 20, 1989
Location(s)Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Target(s)José and Mary Louise Menendez
WeaponsMossberg 12-gauge shotgun
Date apprehended
  • Lyle: March 8, 1990
  • Erik: March 11, 1990

Joseph Lyle Menendez (born January 10, 1968)[3] and Erik Galen Menendez (born November 27, 1970),[4] colloquially referred to as the Menendez brothers, are American brothers and convicted murderers who killed their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.

Following the murders, Lyle and Erik claimed that unknown intruders were responsible for the murders, framing it as a potential mob killing. Police initially investigated this claim, but grew suspicious of the brothers' lavish spending of their multimillion-dollar inheritance, and their hiring of a computer expert to delete their father's recently updated will. The brothers confessed to the murders in sessions with their psychologist, citing desire to be free of a controlling father with high standards, which led to their arrests months later.[5]

Lyle and Erik were charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for lying in wait, making them eligible for the death penalty, and charges of conspiracy to murder. During their first trial, the defense argued that the brothers killed their parents in self-defense after years of alleged sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. The prosecution argued that the murders were premeditated, that allegations of sexual abuse were fabricated, and that the brothers were motivated by hatred and a desire to receive their father's multimillion-dollar estate after being disinherited from his will.[6] The juries were unable to reach a verdict, resulting in mistrials for both brothers.[7][8] In a second trial, they were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Lyle and Erik currently serve life sentences at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego, California. Multiple legal appeals of their convictions have been rejected by reviewing judges.[9] In October 2024, Los Angeles district attorney George Gascón recommended a resentencing after reviewing a habeas corpus petition.[10]

The highly publicized trials received international media attention, inspiring numerous documentaries, dramatizations, books, and parodies.

  1. ^ "Joseph Lyle Menendez". California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS) - CDCR. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Erik Galen Menendez". California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS) - CDCR. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  3. ^ McEvoy, Colin (October 23, 2023). "Lyle Menendez". Biography.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024. FULL NAME: Joseph Lyle Menendez BORN: January 10, 1968
  4. ^ McEvoy, Colin (October 20, 2023). "Erik Menendez". Biography.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024. FULL NAME: Erik Galen Menendez BORN: November 27, 1970
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Spolar, Christine (January 28, 1994). "2ND MENENDEZ MISTRIAL CALLED". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  8. ^ Spolar, Christine (January 13, 1994). "MISTRIAL DECLARED FOR ERIK MENENDEZ". The Washington Post. Los Angeles. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Shapiro, Emily (October 24, 2024). "Menendez brothers latest: LA district attorney recommends resentencing". ABC News. Retrieved October 25, 2024.