Lyle and Erik Menendez, currently serving life sentences without parole for the 1989 murders of their wealthy parents, are the subject of renewed attention following the release of a new Netflix documentary. Through 20 hours of jailhouse calls from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, the brothers present themselves as polite middle-aged men sharing their story in hopes of fostering understanding around their motives.
In the documentary, the Menendez brothers claim their actions stemmed from a lifetime of sexual and physical abuse inflicted by their controlling father, coupled with their mother’s silence and inaction. “Two kids don’t commit this crime for money—they’re already going to get the money,” Erik, 53, asserts. “They don’t commit this crime for any reason other than something very, very wrong was happening in the family.”
Lyle, 56, who has largely stayed out of the media spotlight, expresses a sense of hope, stating, “It’s been 34 years of incarceration and, for the first time, I feel like it’s a conversation where people now can understand and believe.”
Since their conviction on March 20, 1996, for first-degree murder in the deaths of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, societal attitudes toward such cases have evolved significantly. With the advent of the Me Too movement and increased public awareness regarding the impacts of sexual abuse, the Menendez brothers are optimistic that audiences will reconsider their actions in light of their traumatic experiences.
Decades Later, New Evidence Emerges
According to Alejandro Hartmann, the film’s director, the brothers have spent considerable time reflecting on the events surrounding that fateful night. “They’ve had a lot of time to think about what happened that night, and both of them think what they did was not right,” Hartmann explains. However, he notes that Lyle believes a retrial today might yield a different outcome.
In May 2023, the Menendez brothers took a significant step in their pursuit of justice by filing a habeas corpus petition, their first appeal in over two decades. This petition seeks to overturn their convictions based on new evidence, including a letter Erik wrote in 1988 to his cousin, Andy Cano, detailing ongoing molestation by their father. “I don’t know I’ll make it through this,” Erik wrote just eight months prior to the murders.
Additionally, the petition references a 2023 affidavit from singer Roy Rosselló, 55, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who alleged that he was raped by Jose when he was a teenager. Rosselló’s claims suggest that Jose Menendez may have had multiple victims, including his own sons.
As the case gains renewed scrutiny, many are left wondering: could the Menendez brothers finally find the justice they seek?
Reunion in prison after years apart
After years of legal negotiations, Lyle and Erik Menendez were reunited in 2018 within the same cell block at a correctional facility in San Diego. Reflecting on their reunion, Lyle shared, “Even with decades separated, we just felt bonded. We’re not twins, but we felt like it. It was finally a chance to heal.”
Now, the brothers see each other daily, engaging in various activities while serving their life sentences. According to documentary director Alejandro Hartmann, Lyle has become involved in initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of inmates, such as introducing greenery and bringing in pets to the prison environment.
Meanwhile, Erik, who practices meditation, is focused more on his spirituality. As both brothers work alongside their lawyers to advance their latest petition seeking to overturn their convictions, they remain cautious about discussing their future. Hartmann notes that Erik prefers to avoid conversations about their chances of gaining freedom, stating, “He doesn’t want to talk about that—he doesn’t want to have false expectations.”
Together, the Menendez brothers are navigating their shared experiences and finding ways to make the most of their time in prison while continuing to seek justice.