What to Watch About Menendez Brothers, Their Murder Case After Monsters

Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters elicited a divided response about how Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez‘s homicide trial was portrayed within the Netflix sequence — nevertheless it isn’t the one present that covers the controversial case.

After their dad and mom, José and Kitty Menéndez, have been murdered in 1989, Erik and Lyle grew to become the prime suspects. They have been arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree homicide every. What got here subsequent was two high-profile trials that had everybody weighing in on what precipitated Erik and Lyle to kill their mom and father. The siblings, for his or her half, accused José and Kitty of bodily, emotional and sexual abuse.

Their first trial started in 1993 the place the brothers have been tried individually. The case led to a mistrial after the jury was unable to succeed in a unanimous resolution. A retrial started in 1995 however the prosecution efficiently objected to many of the proof surrounding the abuse which meant Erik and Lyle — who have been now being tried collectively — wanted to current a brand new protection.

Lyle refused to take the stand through the second trial to forestall cross examination following the discharge of The Non-public Diary of Lyle Menendez: In His Personal Phrases! The Menendez brothers have been in the end discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life with out parole in 1996. They proceed to attraction the choice and have been granted a brand new listening to for his or her case in October 2024 after the Los Angeles District Lawyer’s workplace cited new proof indicating that their father allegedly molested them. The Los Angeles District Lawyer’s workplace beneficial later that month that Erik and Lyle’s sentence be lowered.

Their case obtained renewed help in September 2024 after turning into the main focus of Murphy’s Monsters sequence. Nicholas Alexander Chavez introduced Lyle to life whereas Erik was performed by Cooper Koch. José and Kitty, in the meantime, have been portrayed by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, respectively.

Monsters got here beneath fireplace for a number of scenes alluding to an incestuous relationship between Lyle and Erik. The youthful Menéndez brother publicly addressed the sequence when he slammed it sooner or later after it was launched.

“I believed we had moved past the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, making a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant within the present,” learn an announcement from Erik that was shared by way of Lyle’s Fb web page. “I can solely consider they have been performed so on function. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say, I consider Ryan Murphy can’t be this naive and inaccurate concerning the details of our lives in order to do that with out dangerous intent.”

In response, Murphy urged the Menéndez brothers to observe the present earlier than forming an opinion.

“I feel it’s attention-grabbing that he’s issued an announcement with out having seen the present. It’s actually, actually exhausting — if it’s your life — to see your life up on display,” he shared with Leisure Tonight in September 2024. “When you watch the present, I might say 60 to 65 p.c [of the content centers] across the abuse and what they declare occurred to them. And we do it very rigorously and we give them their day in courtroom and so they speak brazenly about it.”

Viewers have ended up cut up on whether or not they help how Monsters portrayed Erik and Lyle — nevertheless it isn’t the one challenge concerning the case. Maintain scrolling for a information to a number of different TV reveals and documentary specials that spotlight the Menéndez case:

‘Fact and Lies: The Menendez Brothers’ (Apple TV+)

ABC launched a particular in 2017 which examined the proof that probably pointed to what precipitated Erik and Lyle to kill their dad and mom. Family and friends of the Menéndez brothers have been interviewed for Fact and Lies: The Menéndez Brothers greater than a decade after their sentencing.

‘The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All’ (Prime Video)

Whereas Erik has appeared within the public eye much less after beginning to serve out his time, he spoke with A&E for a five-part documentary. The conversations over a number of telephone calls provided Erik’s perspective on the murders and the aftermath.

The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All particular confirmed never-before-seen pictures and new interviews with prosecutors, legislation enforcement, family members and medical consultants concerning the case. Erik stated the knowledge he gave to the docuseries was essentially the most complete public dialog that he has had because the crime made headlines.

‘Legislation & Order: True Crime — The Menéndez Murders’ (Apple TV+ or Prime Video)

The eight-part particular was a by-product of the Legislation & Order franchise, which depicted the homicide, investigation, arrest and trials of the Menéndez brothers. Legislation & Order: True Crime – The Menéndez Murders forged Miles Gaston Villanueva to play Lyle, whereas Gus Halper was introduced on to deliver Erik to life. Edie Falco earned an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of protection legal professional Leslie Abramso.

When the particular premiered in 2017, Lyle’s household and buddies confirmed their help. Lyle later spoke to Megyn Kelly and referred to as Legislation & Order: True Crime — The Menéndez Murders “surprisingly correct” though he didn’t seek the advice of on the present.

‘Menendez: Monsters or Misjudged?’ (Max and Discovery+)

In 2022, Menendez: Monsters or Misjudged? was launched as an examination of the help the Menéndez brothers have gotten within the years because the homicide. Eric Philips was forged to reenact sure scenes within the movie as Erik.

‘Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed’ (Peacock)

The 2023 Peacock docuseries provided a platform for former Menudo member Roy Rosselló to handle his previous with Erik and Lyle’s father, José. Rosselló alleged he was drugged and raped when he was a teen by José. The accusations from the singer have been included in a petition filed with Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom in an effort to overturn their case.

The courtroom paperwork requested a retrial whereas citing new proof within the case corresponding to Rosselló’s allegations in opposition to José and a newly found letter Erik wrote to his cousin Andy Cano describing his father’s alleged sexual abuse months earlier than the murders.

‘The Menendez Brothers’ (Netflix)

Lower than one week after Monsters was launched, Netflix introduced that Lyle and Erik have been interviewed for The Menéndez Brothers documentary. The particular, which is ready to be launched in October 2024, consists of footage from conversations with juror Betty Oldfield, Kitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.