The Menendez Brothers
Who Was The Menendez Family?
(Left to Right) Lyle Menendez, Kitty Menendez, Jose Menendez and Erik Menendez
Jose Enrique Menendez, was a Cuban-American, who left Cuba and fled to the United States at the age of 16. While attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, he met his wife, Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. They got married and became the parents of two sons. Joseph Lyle Menendez, who goes by his middle name, Lyle, was born in New York on January 10, 1968. Erik Galen Menendez, was born in New Jersey on November 27, 1970. They moved around a lot from New Jersey to Calabasas to Beverly Hills. Their last home was their Beverly Hills mansion.
What Happened & Why?
What happened?
On August 20, 1989, José and Mary “Kitty” Menendez were shot to death inside their Beverly Hills mansion by their two sons. The brothers were first arrested in March of 1990. After seven years of thousands of hours of court trials, their sons Lyle and Erik Menendez, were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996.
Why did it happen?
The brothers did what they did because they suffered years and years of heavy physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Their father molested them since the age of 6 and their mother knew yet did absolutely nothing about it. Their mother emotionally abused them and sided with their father when he physically and sexually abused them. After years of abuse and suffering, the brothers were traumatized and frightened which led them to kill their parents.
Why should we help them?
This was a big injustice and their last court trial was extremely unfair. The judge was believed to be biased and didn’t allow them to present sexual abuse evidence in the second trial which is why they easily lost the case. He also restricted certain witness testimonies which could have helped the brothers. There was a lot of evidence and witness testimonies in their first trial that proved that the brothers were molested, pressured to always please their parents, yelled at for everything, and overall physically, emotionally and sexually abused. The brothers killed their parents out of fear. It has now been 30+ years since they were first incarcerated and they are still serving life in prison for something that should have been voluntary manslaughter. They have been in prison for longer than they have been out. They deserve an appeal and a fair re-trial with the abuse evidence presented.
Erik and Lyle Menendez in court
Common Accusations
& My Answers
“They deserve to be in jail”
We are not saying that they should have walked free. But life in prison without the possibility of parole is an extreme sentence. It was basically self defense so at the very least the brothers should have only been convinced of voluntary manslaughter, not first degree murder. They very much deserve to be released now that they have done enough time. They have had great behavior in prison and they continue to be a positive influence, they would benefit society much more as free men which is why we will continue to fight for their release.
“They could have ran away or told the police”
We can’t be ignorant and say that they could have ran away or told the police. Especially because they had already considered that. They considered everything, including suicide. Their father threatened to kill them himself and he even gruesomely described how he would kill them if they ever ran away or told anyone. When you’re being abused, it’s very hard to speak up and tell someone, even the people you trust the most. Whether it be due to threats, fear, shame, or guilt, it’s not easy to speak up.
“They were old enough to move out or do something about it”
As a matter of fact, Erik was excited to move to his college dorm at UCLA. But his father already had his whole life planned out and his father was going to make him stay at home for the weekends so that he could continue to molest him. In addition, the prefrontal cortex, the decision making part of the brain, doesn’t mature until the age of 25. The brothers were only 21 and 18 at the time of the killings. Their maturation could have also been delayed because of the psychological maltreatment at the hands of their parents. Please take that into consideration.
“They did it for the money”
The prosecution made the accusation that the brothers did it for their parent’s money. But the brothers weren’t new to money, they were already rich. They also shamed Lyle for over-spending money after the killings. What they don’t mention is that over-spending is a form of PTSD. The brothers suffered lots of guilt and remorse after the killings. Spending money was Lyle’s way of coping with what had happened, just like playing tennis was Erik’s way of coping. To say that they did it for the money is absolutely ignorant to the evidence and the facts. I suggest you conduct your own research if you still believe that they did it for the money because you have only gotten that from the media, where they have been badly portrayed. Furthermore, once you do your own research, you will see that they aren’t what the media makes them out to be. They were born two sweet souls who would live life always anticipating the worst. They were born innocent. They deserved way more than what this world gave them.
“The sexual abuse defense was a lie”
To say that it was a lie is also very ignorant to the evidence and the facts. Many witness testimonies have already proved the defense to be true. Additionally, if you watch Erik and Lyle’s testimonies, as they are explaining their abuse you can see that their emotions and expressions are very clearly real. Body language analysts have also proved that. But the reality is that we are in no position to question their abuse, the fear and suffering at hands of their parents is convincing enough. People who haven’t experienced abuse firsthand wouldn’t completely understand what the brothers went through and they should be grateful that they haven’t because it’s awful. Especially since it had been happening since they were 6 years old and by their own father. It’s completely disrespectful if you claim that it’s a lie. If you have nothing positive to say about this case, then don’t say anything at all.
Erik and Lyle Menendez as kids
How Can You Help?
How To Get More Informed?
How To Get More Updates On The Brothers And Their Case?
Lyle and Erik Menendez as kids
My Personal Statement
I, the creator of this page, have rewatched hundreds of hours of the first court trial, read the second trial transcripts, listened to both witness and defendant testimonies, watched all of the documentaries, watched interviews, read articles and read books on this case. I made sure I was fully informed on the case and that I was open to both the prosecution and the defendant’s point of views before coming to the conclusion that I firmly believe that the brother’s sexual abuse defense was and is the truth. I would not try to inform the public about this case if I didn’t very firmly believe that they did it out of fear for their life which was caused by their life’s worth of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Thank you for taking the time to read and thank you for your support. If you have any suggestions/recommendations for this card or any comments/questions about the Menendez case in general, feel free to message me.
Erik and Lyle Menendez as kids
Help Sign The Petition For The Menendez Brothers
DO NOT DONATE TO THE PETITION, ONLY SIGN IT!
Disclaimer: The Menendez family is currently not behind any petitions. This petition was started by a supporter and by signing it you will help raise awareness about the case and you will help make the Menendez brothers look good in the public eye. Public opinion matters a lot, especially in criminal cases like this one. By signing the petition, you are helping the Menendez brothers in more ways than one. Thank you for your support!
Help The Menendez Brothers By Emailing Governor Newsom
Governor Newsom has the power to commute Erik and Lyle Menendez's sentence. By writing letters to him you are helping the Menendez brothers be heard and it would really help their case. By clicking the first button below, you will be directed to a google doc form. The first letter template is for Lyle Menendez and as you scroll down, you will find one for Erik Menendez. If you click on the second button, you will be directed to an Instagram page, @ProjectMenendez. Their page has more information on how to send the letters. If you have any questions about the letters or about emailing Governor Newsom, feel free to send them a message. Thank you for your support!
List Of Recommended Books
| Title | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Menendez Murders | Robert Rand | Robert Rand shares these intimate, never-before-revealed findings, including a deeply disturbing history of child abuse and sexual molestation in the Menendez family going back generations, and the shocking admission O.J. Simpson made to one of the Menendez brothers when they were inmates at the L.A. County Men’s Central Jail. |
| The Diary Of A Menendez Juror | Hazel Thornton | Hazel Thornton takes us behind the scenes of one of the highest profile murder cases of all time. More than two decades after serving as a juror on the seven-month murder trial People v. Erik Galen Menendez, Hazel updates her book Hung Jury with a new preface and a postscript essay of observations about the Menendez brothers’ second trial. |
| They Said We’d Never Make It | Tammi Menendez | The wife of Erik Menendez discusses her husband's painful life, his trial for the murder of his parents, the brutality of his life in a maximum security prison, and their struggle to preserve their marriage. |