Menendez brothers seek release from prison, both literal and figurative

Lyle and Erik Menendez are two brothers notoriously known for the brutal murder of their parents, José and Mary “Kitty” Menendez. The controversial, 35-year-old Beverly Hills murder has garnered recent attention with Ryan Murphy’s new series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and the release of The Menendez Brothers Documentary. A twisted family, inconsistent case, and debatable motives. . . the two brothers are infamous for their crime, but why did they do it?

Although the two admitted to the murder, they argued it was in self defense, as they claim to have experienced extensive sexual abuse at the hands of their father, José. Taking a step back to the 1990s, sexual abuse towards males was not often taken seriously. Many didn't believe that such a thing could happen due to the rigid gender norms, so when two men used the “abuse excuse” for their imperfect self-defense, most assumed it was to escape from being found guilty of their crimes. However, those weren’t two men up on the stand; those were boys still mentally trapped in the prison they were raised in, unknowingly about to be put in another. 

In court, the two brothers shared their heartbreaking stories about their tortuous childhood that was stolen from them before it even began. They detailed the sexual abuse experienced at the hands of their father, and Lyle admitted to becoming a perpetrator of such abuse in an attempt to rationalize the trauma in his mind. On the other hand, prosecutors argued that the crime was done for financial gain as they came from a wealthy family and the abuse was just a cover. The jury was divided, some empathizing with them and others assuming it was a facade. The first case ended in a hung jury, meaning that the jurors did not come upon an agreement and the case ended in a mistrial. This led to three more years in prison until their second trial would begin, and they would be sentenced to life without parole.

The two brothers, who were just 18 and 21 at the time of the fatal shooting, have recently spoken out about their case for the first time in decades, resulting in the release of The Menendez Brothers Documentary. This, along with the drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has shed new light on the case, though it’s not all been good. The Ryan Murphy series portrays different views of the brothers, putting the viewers in the shoes of the jury, though Murphy did not clearly communicate that this was the show’s intention. Since the show’s release, Lyle Menendez has communicated that the series is largely inaccurate as he’s portrayed as a cruel, violent character. To this, Ryan Murphy said that this is “the best thing that has happened to the Menendez brothers in 30 years,” since their case is again being talked about.

Murphy’s piece was misconstrued in more ways than one, as the show’s fans have begun to glorify the brothers. Nicholas Chavez who portrays Lyle Menendez has gained attention since the show’s release, as fans obsess over him and his looks. This has caused lines to blur as people struggle to separate the actor from the character. People seem to forget that the characters being portrayed are real people who went through unimaginable abuse, and the actor and character need clear separation.

Regardless, the show has brought about re-evaluation of the case, some saying they deserve the life sentence, while others disagree and say they had a genuine reason behind the murder of their parents. Various social media creators have started petitions in an attempt to have the Menendez case officially revisited. Erik Menendez has also presented new evidence to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office, showing a letter he had written to his cousin describing the sexual abuse he was experiencing, in order to solidify their defense.

The district attorney’s office has taken this, and recent laws into consideration, along with recent testimonies from nearly two dozen family members. 

"Their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable cruelty of their father," said Kitty Menendez's sister, Joan Andersen VanderMolen. "As their aunt, I had no idea of the extent of the abuse they suffered."

Furthermore, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recently spoke with CNN, saying “I will never excuse murder, and those were brutal, premeditated murders. They were appropriately sentenced at the time when they were tried. They got life without the possibility of parole. I just think that given the current state of the law and given our assessment of their behavior in prison, they deserve the opportunity to be re-evaluated and perhaps reintegrated into the community.”

Since saying this, the brothers have become eligible for immediate parole, and could be released as soon as Thanksgiving if they are approved. This has caused division, though if their actions while in prison are any indicator of future behavior, the brothers are nothing to worry about. Hopefully, the two can move beyond the mental and physical prisons they’ve long been trapped in, and liberate themselves of this trauma once and for all.

by E. Toney & J. Williams

Published November 4th, 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue II