All Rights Reserved. Here's When It Returns With New Episodes, Drew Barrymore Halts Segment After "Severely Old" Mac and Cheese Noodle Flies off Her Desk: "It's Rock Hard". Erik married Tammi Saccoman, an attractive blonde with whom he'd been exchanging letters for six years. During one of those visits, Roy says he saw Erik and Lyle, after which he was drugged and assaultedand he implies that this crime took place as an implicit means of sealing Menudos RCA deal. Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. It was so brutal that police thought the killings were a mob hit, and early investigations focused on that possibility. The night of the murders, the brothers told police theyd gone out that night to see a movie but had to make a pitstop to retrieve Eriks ID. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. The brothers moved out of the family's Beverly Hills mansion and stayed in a series of expensive hotels before finally leasing condominiums on the water in Marina Del Rey. Erik! He lived with a cousin in Pennsylvania before winning an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. On March 20, 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Roy Rossell, 53, an ex-member of the 1980s boy band Menudo, claims in the Peacock special that Jose Menendez sexually assaulted him when he was 14. Lyle and Erik confessed to buying the shotguns on Aug. 18, 1989 just two days before the murders in case they needed them for protection. Was Sexual Abuse Behind the Menendez Brothers' Murders? Lyle Menendez, then 21 years old, called 911 to report that he and his 18-year-old brother, Erik Menendez, had returned from the movie theater and the Taste of L.A. event in Santa Monica to find someone had murdered their mother and father. Those in the know said Jos was also concerned because his sons helped commit several burglaries in the Los Angeles area, taking about $100,000 in jewelry and cash the previous year. The Abuse of Erik and Lyle Menendez was carried out by their parents, Jose and Kitty. After Joseph Lyle Menendez was born in 1968, the family moved to New Jersey, where, Jose was 35 when he became executive vice president at Hertz, a subsidiary of Radio Corporation of America, more commonly known as RCA. Police began their investigation by looking into Jos, a Cuban immigrant whod become a self-made millionaire in the video business. Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents on August 20, 1989. Jordan Whynn, who is 24, watched the trial on YouTube while in coronavirus lockdown and launched an Instagram account called @MenendezSupporter. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. He decided to forgo attending UCLA and instead hired a tennis coach for $60,000 a year in the hopes of going pro. The police said the crime was motivated by greed, since they were set to inherit their parents $14-million estate. On August 19, their parents chartered a yacht and took them shark fishing. Its not unfathomable, then, to think that in the present climate, Lyle and Eriks charges would have sounded more plausible than they did at the timeand that no judge would have dared limit testimony about their alleged sexual abuse, as was the case in their second trial, when they were found guilty. The Menendez brothers, who were convicted of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion nearly three decades ago, have been reunited in a . Erik (R) and Lyle Menendez (L) during a 1992 court appearance in Los Angeles, California, Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents a Look Inside Their Murder Case, G. Gordon Liddys Wild Career After Watergate, Law and Order True Crime: the Menendez Murders, Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers - American Sons, American Murders, located on one of the most exclusive blocks in Beverly Hills, got both Erik and Lyle on tape, confessing to the murders. On the stand, Erik admitted that, just days before their parents murders, he told his older brother that their father had molested him. were convicted of brutally killing their parents. Youre a normal kid who killed your parents, Walters said. Jos spent the early 80s as the head of RCA Records and had a hand in the signing of bands such as Duran Duran and The Eurythmics. Thirty years ago this week, a shocking crime unfolded in a Beverly Hills mansion. The boys' father, Jose Menendez immigrated from Cuba when he was 16, and worked his way up in corporate America to become an extremely wealthy business man, and eventually the CEO of LIVE Entertainment. She added: My mom is a person that says like, You know, they killed their parents, and thats wrong.'. Lyle dipped a toe into the last by trying, unsuccessfully, to be named the promoter of a rock concert. Who Is Jose Menendez? I know what he did to me in his house, he says. I had been told that right after his murder, people were pretty pleased that he was no longer on the earth.. He added that he became disgusted with the way the media at the time and in subsequent years downplayed the brothers abuse.. More of Joss business ventures sent detectives looking into a transaction between Jos and a New Jersey-based businessman whod sold Jos a pornographic film company. In 1988, after getting caught in a string of burglaries, Erik was required by the court to meet with a therapist named Dr. Jerome Oziel. Kill Jos, kill Kitty.. Menudo Star Says Jos Menendez Assaulted Him. They were sentenced to life without parole. She said everyone she talks to all have the same goal. This younger generation is learning about the Menendez case. As with more than a few recent docuseries, its so eager to be first with its headline-grabbing imputations that it jumps the gun, leaving viewers to speculate about a sensational future that might come to pass should further substantiation eventually materialize. By the age of four, both had grown up in the opulent Beverley Hills. Thats when they discovered the murder.. The brothers during one of the court hearings It was the first business under the umbrella of a company Lyle called Menendez Investment Enterprises. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Investigators looked through the ledger of the second gun store on their list, finding two shotguns were purchased by Donovan Goodreau, a friend of Lyles from New Jersey. On August 20, 1989, a seemingly hysterical Lyle Menendez, then 21, called 911. Commentators also pointed out gender bias something the brothers had been publicly arguing since their trial and that there might have been a different outcome, had the defendants been female. A Bombshell Docuseries Makes the Case for Menendez Brothers' Innocence A. Justice was served, Det. On August 24, 1989, the day before his parents funeral, Lyle dropped over $15,000 on three Rolex watches, as witnesses and he would later testify. "Those kids watched their mother become a doormat for their father," Lamm told Vanity Fair. The brothers were initially tried separately, but both juries were deadlocked. Both boys were indicted on December 7, 1992 and tried separately for murder. He believed that whatever had to be done should be done with no heart, if necessary, a colleague told Vanity Fair. The Menendez family moved to the West Coast in the fall of 1986 when Jos whod previously made a career with RCA records accepted a job with a company called Live Entertainment. The brothers were taken in for questioning but were outwardly distraught. Nearly three decades after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of brutally killing their parents Jose and Kitty, the notorious case that glued a nation to its TV sets is back in the spotlight. Even the brothers weepy descriptions of their fathers abuse earned them mockery. Who Is Suspected Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira? Jose turned the struggling International Video Entertainment Inc. (IVE), a video distributor into profitability. Unable to profess their innocence, Lyle and Erik instead claimed that their fathers reign of terror went far beyond emotional abuse and the pressure of high expectations. In the special . The brothers, featured on ABC's 20/20 in April of 2021, have a new generation of. Well, why did you need to buy a Rolex watch four days after your parents were killed? Bozanich asked. 5,915, This story has been shared 3,830 times. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. They insisted that they had shot their parents in self-defense because they believed that Jose would kill them rather than have the abuse be exposed. Unlike other endlessly popular true-crime storiesJonBenet Ramsey, O.J. Previously, the Menendez brothers were jailed at separate prisons. DAHMER Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starring Evan Peters as the titular serial killer, detailed the cannibalistic murder spree Dahmer conducted undetected for over a decade. Lyle is the oldest brother, he was born in 1968, and his brother Erik was born in 1970. It was the smoke of the guns, and it was basically just chaos.. Alongside Roys own sincere commentary, their testimony (including Rauls admission that he once saw Roy and Diaz in bed together, naked) is shocking and persuasive. "It was similar to a situation where you have pro-life and pro-choice people and put them in an argument together.". All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Both have gotten married while behind barsLyle twice. They then drove. Though Oziels disclosure violated doctor-client privilege, it was enough for investigators to take a closer look at the brothers. Sitting next to his fathers secretary Marzi Eisenberg in the limo home from the services, he showed off his leather loafers and quipped, Hey, Marzi, who said I couldnt fill my fathers shoes? Then he wondered aloud to another friend in the car how he could obtain tickets to the U.S. Open. With a flurry of shotgun rounds, the brothers violently killed their parents, Jos and Kitty, doing enough damage to their bodies to render them nearly unrecognizable. Smyth claimed her former boyfriend, a psychologist named Dr. Jerome Oziel whod professionally seen the brothers over the previous burglary charges disclosed that Lyle and Erik made in-session confessions to killing their parents. He would work his children to the bone in athletics, especially tennis, and everything else, reported Biography. Years later, a cousin told ABC News that she believed his story because hed told her similar things when he was a child. Lyle also purchased his own chicken wing restaurant back in New Jersey. In the ensuing 30 years, theyve maintained their victimization story, and now, a new Peacock docuseries purports to have evidence that might corroborate their allegations against Josand it comes from the unlikeliest of sources. Early on, investigators ran on the theory that Jos might have rubbed elbows with the mob in the course of his work. The It List: Menudo docuseries makes the case for Menendez brothers You can see more of her writing at kaitlinmenza.com. Lyle, however, stayed on the East Coast to attend Princeton University. 'Citadel' Episode Guide: When Do New Episodes Premiere on Prime Video? Before the new docuseries streams, get up to speed on this key figure in the Peacock special. All Rights Reserved. The Menendez brothers second trial began at the Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys one and a half years later in August 1995. Jose was also protective of the family name. Much of Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed involves Roy speaking candidly and tearfully about his arduous ordeal, the multiple suicide attempts it instigated, and his hunger for justice. What Happened to Bonnie Hood at Camp Nelson? The sensationalized trial of Lyle and Erik Menendez during the 1990s continues to be a source of fascination and debate, especially in light of social media and the #MeToo movement. Born in Cuba to well-to-do business people and star athletes, Jose was 16 when his parents sent him to the U.S. in the late 1950s. Kaitlin Menza is a freelance features writer. Lyle and Erik anticipated the noise would prompt law enforcement to show up at their home, but when they hadnt, they hatched their plan to ditch their weapons and call 911. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. In between, the Menendez murders became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century thanks to its potent mix of family drama, Hollywood connections, dramatic testimony and cable TVs ability to blanket the airwaves with coverage. Jose was also protective of the family name. He smiled and looked up at her slowly. Prosecutors argued that the brothers were driven by greed, pointing out that Erik and Lyle spent an estimated $700,000 of their inheritance in the months following their parents' deaths. Is 'Are You There God? Over three decades later, some TikTok users believe that they were actually the victims. Their late mother's brother, Brian Andersen, dismissed the idea that their mother did anything wrong, telling ABC News, "The idea that Erik and Lyle were abused by my sister Kitty is absolute. She lives in New York. Who Are The Menendez Brothers? Facts About Famous Killer Siblings Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. During the trials, they claimed their father routinely administered physical and. Lyle Menendez Today on His Sexual Abuse Claims - People That defense earned them separate mistrials in 1993 but didn't succeed in their subsequent 1996 retrial, which concluded with convictions and . The upcoming Netflix doc could possibly reveal some new insights from the brothers over 30 years later. Im not going to live my life for my father, but I think his dreams are what I want to achieve. Who was missing woman Kim Mason and how did she die? Erik said theyd done it to put their mother out of her misery, while Lyle made it clear that they were both in on the crime. The show drew some controversy, namely from the families of the victims depicted in the series. Jos was born in Cuba, emigrated to the United States after the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s, living in the attic of a cousins home until he earned a college scholarship for swimming. Immediately, it was announced that they would be retried. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Where Is Acquitted Murderer Candy Montgomery Now? It would take months for them to be arrested and placed on trial for the murders, during which Lyle and Erik lived lavishly, spending money on clothes, sports cars and business ventures. Erik had so much less self-confidence because everything he did was never good enough.. Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed thus plays like the tip of a potential iceberg that has yet to be fully assessed. Some said Jos planned to take Lyle and Erik out of the will for fears theyd blow their inheritance on their new girlfriends. 30 Years After Menendez Brothers Murders - People It seemed like Jos was so competitive, he was doing everything he could to try to make him better, their former swim team coach told the Los Angeles Times in 1990. In December 1993, jurors began weeks of deliberations but couldnt agree to the charges, resulting in a hung jury. You could hear things breaking and you could hear the ringing noises from the booms, Lyle testified.