The Menendez brothers' murder case gets a new face. Here's why | WUWM 89.7 FM

More than 30 years have passed since the murder trials of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, and the story continues to turn heads and make headlines.

The case was highly publicized during the first of her two trials for the murder of her parents and was one of a series of sensationalized criminal trials broadcast live around the world.

But that was in 1994. Why is this case back in the public consciousness after so many years?

Thank you to social media, Netflix, Kim Kardashian — and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who announced this week that his office is reexamining evidence.

Read on to learn about the latest developments in this decades-old case.

The Menendez brothers are in prison for killing their parents

In August 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were watching television in the living room of their Beverly Hills home when their two sons came in and shot them. At the time of the crime, the two men were 18 and 21 years old.

It took two trials to convict the brothers of their parents' murders.

Two jurors deadlocked in 1994 after Lyle and Erik Menendez testified that they shot their parents in self-defense. The brothers said they feared their parents would kill them to prevent stories of their sons' alleged abuse from coming to light.

They claim and continue to allege that Jose Menendez physically and sexually abused the boys for years while their mother, portrayed as an unstable alcoholic who also abused them, did nothing about it. Prosecutors alleged that the men ultimately planned the murder with the goal of claiming their parents' multi-million dollar estate.

In the second trial, Judge Stanley Weisberg limited testimony about her allegations of sexual abuse. In 1996, the jury found her guilty of first-degree murder after a five-day deliberation and a 20-week trial.

Why is the public prosecutor's office reviewing the case now?

Gascón, the prosecutor, announced Thursday that his office is reviewing new evidence in the cases of Erik, now 53, and Lyle Menendez, 56.

The brothers, citing new evidence, asked the court to overturn their conviction, which resulted in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, in a motion filed back in May.

Gascón states that there is no doubt that the brothers killed their parents – a fact that the two have admitted. But, he said, his office has a “moral and ethical obligation” to examine the evidence. This evidence includes a photocopy of a letter from one of the brothers to another family member mentioning that he was a victim of harassment. Another is the testimony of a member of the successful Latin band Menudo, who said Jose Menendez abused him in his early teens when he was an executive at RCA Records. None of this information has been confirmed, Gascón said.

Steve Grayson / Pool UPI/AP

/

Pool UPI/AP

He added that there could be several options for how prosecutors should approach the Menendez case, including seeking a new sentence, Release from prison or a new trial.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for November 29th.

How does Ryan Murphy's new show and social media fit into this?

Years ago, YouTubers on social media sites like TikTok began to bring renewed attention to the case. Many true crime junkies have made videos re-examining the Menendez trials and their crimes, and discussing how her parents' alleged abuse may have contributed to her actions.

This new generation of attention to the case contributed to a new, controversial Netflix series called Ryan Murphy Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, that takes up the processes again.

But Erik Menendez criticized the series. In a statement shared by his wife, Tammi Menendez, on of intentionally falsifying the facts surrounding her crime.

Erik Menendez wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I say that Ryan Murphy cannot be so naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives as to do this without malicious intent.”

Murphy responded defiantly to Erik Menendez's post, saying the brothers' reaction was “fake outrage” and that the show was “the best thing that happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years in prison.”

And Kim Kardashian is involved, eh?

Kardashian, a businesswoman, The reality star and criminal justice advocate spoke out about the case earlier this week. In an op-ed published on NBC News, Kardashian called for the brothers' release, writing: “I spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent and honest men.”

She visited them in prison almost a month ago along with Cooper Koch, who played Erik Menendez in the new Netflix series.

Kardashian said in her essay that she doesn't excuse their crimes or their actions in retrospect, but believes the men, now in their 50s, deserve freedom.

She continued: “Had this crime been committed and tried today, I believe the outcome would have been completely different. I also strongly believe that they were denied a fair second trial and that the exclusion of crucial abuse evidence deprived Erik and Lyle of the opportunity to fully present their case, further undermining the justice of their conviction.

Copyright 2024 NPR