Lyle Menendez Parents: What Happened in 1989?

27 years ago in Beverley Hills, the unthinkable happened. Jose Menendez and Mary “Kitty” Menendez were murdered in their upmarket mansion by none other than their sons, Lyle and Erik.

The murder shocked America, and now, people are returning to it with new eyes. In fact, many people say that Erik and Lyle Menendez’s sentences for killing their parents were too harsh.

So, what’s going on? What do we know about the case?

What Happened to Lyle Menendez’s Parents?

It was the 20th of August 1989, and a reasonably normal evening in the Menendez household – Jose and Kitty were sitting down to watch TV after dinner. Then, everything changed.

Lyle and Erik decided to open fire on their parents using recently-bought shotguns. Their father was shot point-blank in the head, while Kitty had been shot multiple times from a distance.

However, for many weeks, Lyle and Erik weren’t suspects. They rang 911, held a funeral service and memorial, and went back to their normal life.

(Image/ Source: metro.co.uk)

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Later on, Erik Menendez even spoke to a journalist about his parents, revealing touching stories about his childhood.

However, a few months after the story went to print, police arrested Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murder of their parents.

According to the police, their father was set to disinherit his two sons, and this prompted the Menendez Brothers to head to San Diego to buy shotguns and plan their parents’ murder.

Shocking stuff. So what has changed now, and why do some people want the Menendez Brothers out of prison?

What Has Changed?

The Menendez Brothers’ trial happened in 1995 and found Erik and Lyle convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

However, many people are returning to the case, especially some important details revealed in Lyle and Erik’s defence.

The brother’s defence rested on claims of parental abuse. Both Lyle and Erik claimed that their father had sexually abused them, for many years.

A few days before the fateful day of the murders, Lyle and Erik got into an argument with their parents about the abuse.

(Image/ Source: telegraph.co.uk Ronald L. Soble / eyevine)

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Lyle said: “I started pleading with him before I left, ‘Dad, I’m only going to tell people if you don’t stop touching Erik – if it doesn’t stop.’ And he just looked at me and said, ‘You’re going to tell everyone anyway.’ And he left.

I thought we were in danger. I thought he felt he had no choice. That he would kill us. That he would get rid of us in some way. Because he thought I was going to ruin him.”

However, the abuse defence didn’t go well in court. Despite two juries being unable to come to a decision, a second trial found them guilty.

Now, TikTok is awash with videos of the brothers, and new evidence may have emerged that proves that abuse claims were true.

But what do the Menendez Brothers think of the new interest in their case? Well, Lyle has plenty to say.

“I would say that if you didn’t believe us in the ’90s, I get it.

If you don’t believe us in 2020 and beyond, I don’t get it… If you care, if it’s important enough to be worked up over and emotional about, then there’s more than enough out there, including the entire trial, to be educated on the case.”

Jail Weddings

The Menendez Brothers have been in jail for almost 35 years now – but don’t think they haven’t been busy in that time.

In fact, both brothers have managed to find wives while in prison.

Lyle Menendez first married Anna Eriksson, a model. She initially wrote to him during the first trial in 1993, and an unexpected romance started.

(Image/ Source: thecinemaholic.com)

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However, their marriage ended in 2001 when Anna claimed that Lyle had been writing to someone else.

In 2003, Lyle got married again, this time to a magazine editor. They had been friends for a long time before tying the knot in prison.

Erik Menendez also got lucky – he married Tammy Saccoman in 1999.