Menendez Brothers: Could New Legal Twist Result in Their Release?

It was a seemingly ordinary night in Beverly Hills, California, back in August 1989 when the unthinkable happened. The lives of two parents were brutally cut short by none other than their own children.

Lyle Menendez, 21, and his 18-year-old brother Erik stormed into the den of their family’s lavish home, armed with 12-gauge shotguns. In a chilling and shocking act, they fatally shot their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, while the couple were watching TV.

This brutal double murder gripped the nation, making headlines and spawning countless documentaries. Now, more than three decades later, it’s the centerpiece of Ryan Murphy’s highly anticipated second season of the drama series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” on Netflix.

The show began streaming on Thursday, September 19, reigniting interest in the case that continues to haunt American pop culture.

The Menendez brothers’ defense was as startling as the crime itself. According to Lyle and Erik, years of unimaginable sexual abuse at the hands of their father, a powerful Hollywood executive, led them to commit the murders.

They claimed their mother, a former beauty queen, had turned a blind eye to their suffering. However, the authorities saw things differently. They argued that the brothers were driven by greed, pointing to the extravagant spending spree the siblings embarked on after the murders—luxury cars, expensive watches, even tennis lessons.

After a dramatic first trial in 1993 ended in a deadlock, the brothers were retried and ultimately convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder. Both received life sentences without the possibility of parole.

But the saga didn’t end there. For years, efforts have been made to overturn their convictions. In May 2023, a new twist emerged when their legal team filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court, pointing to newly uncovered evidence that could change the narrative.

Among the bombshell findings was a letter Erik had written to his cousin, Andy Cano, months before the murders. In the letter, Erik detailed the alleged sexual abuse by their father—evidence that remained hidden for years, only surfacing in 2015 after Andy’s personal effects were finally examined.

“Nobody had looked at [the cousin’s personal] effects until 2015, and that’s when it was found, 10 years after our last appeal,” said Mark Geragos, the brothers’ post-conviction attorney, in an interview with PEOPLE.

Mark also weighed in on the latest legal developments. “We’re saying the second trial did not comport with constitutional protections for a variety of reasons,” he explained, hinting at why the brothers are pushing for a fresh look at their case.

Adding fuel to the fire was testimony from a new accuser, a former member of the popular Latin boy band Menudo, whose allegations mirrored those of the brothers. This shocking revelation has breathed new life into the Menendez case, and the wheels of justice are once again in motion.

Mark explained that the judge has three possible courses of action: he can reject the petition outright, require a formal response from the DA, or—what’s already in motion—request an informal response. The DA has taken this seriously, dedicating the last 15 months to examining the new evidence they had brought forward.

This latest chapter adds to the intrigue of the infamous case, and a notable figure is back in the spotlight: Leslie Abramson, the fiery defense attorney who famously represented Erik in the original trials.

Teaming up with her long-time colleague, Gerald Chaleff—known for defending the Hillside Strangler—Leslie is once again taking up the fight for Erik’s freedom. Gerald, meanwhile, is representing Lyle.

Rumors have long swirled about the hefty fees these two legal powerhouses have commanded, with whispers suggesting that each was paid a staggering $700,000 for their services. But whether that figure is fact or fiction remains one of the many mysteries surrounding the Menendez brothers.

What’s clear is that the stakes are high. If the brothers succeed in overturning their convictions, they stand to inherit a $14 million estate, a fortune that was once tantalizingly close. The idea that money might buy their freedom has fueled much speculation.

While serving life sentences behind bars, both Lyle and Erik found love and tied the knot. Erik, 28 at the time, married Tammi Ruth Saccoman, 37, in a low-key ceremony at California State Prison in June 1999.

The wedding, held in the prison’s visiting room, was officiated by a Deputy Commissioner of Marriage from the Sacramento County Recorder’s Office, according to prison spokesperson Billy Mayfield. Despite the union, Erik was not granted conjugal visits.

A few years later, in November 2003, Lyle followed suit. He exchanged vows with 33-year-old Rebecca Sneed in a maximum-security visiting area at Mule Creek State Prison, near Sacramento.

Lyle, 35 at the time, had known Rebecca for about a decade before they decided to wed. Although family and friends attended the ceremony, prison regulations prevented any intimate contact, as conjugal visits are not permitted for inmates serving life sentences.