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Lyle Menendez Today: The Menendez Brothers Featured in New Netflix Series
More than a year ago, Netflix announced the second season of its hit anthology series Monster would center on the infamous Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. Now, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is officially streaming, offering true-crime enthusiasts a fresh retelling of the brothers’ notorious case. Released on September 19, the series revisits the shocking 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, and the dramatic trials that followed. Lyle Menendez is portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award winner Nicholas Alexander Chavez, while the show’s creators, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, continue to build on their success after the first season, which focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Although neither Lyle, 56, nor Erik, 53, were directly involved in the production of Monsters, they are participants in a Netflix documentary titled The Menendez Brothers, which premieres on October 7.
Who Is Lyle Menendez?
Lyle Menendez, alongside his younger brother Erik, is a convicted murderer responsible for the 1989 killings of their parents. On August 20 of that year, the brothers shot José and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their arrest in 1990 led to a high-profile trial that gripped the nation. The Menendez brothers claimed years of sexual and emotional abuse as the motive for the murders. Despite their defense, both were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and received life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Today, Lyle is incarcerated in San Diego and is married to his wife, Rebecca. In 2023, the Menendez brothers filed a petition seeking to vacate their convictions, citing newly discovered evidence that allegedly supports their original claims of abuse at the hands of their father.
Early Life
Born on January 10, 1968, in New York City, Joseph Lyle Menendez grew up in a privileged environment in Princeton, New Jersey. His father, José Menendez, was a Cuban immigrant who became a prominent entertainment executive, while his mother, Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, embraced a socialite lifestyle. Despite their wealth, the Menendez household was fraught with tension, as José exerted intense pressure on his sons to excel academically and athletically.
The brothers have consistently claimed that their father’s control extended beyond strict parenting. According to Lyle’s cousin, Diane Vander Molen, Lyle confided in her at age 8 that José was sexually abusing him. Vander Molen informed Kitty Menendez, but she dismissed the allegations, and no further action was taken. Years later, both Lyle and Erik publicly detailed the abuse, with Lyle alleging it occurred between the ages of 6 and 8, and Erik claiming that it lasted for 12 years.
By 1986, the Menendez family had relocated to Southern California, where tensions between the brothers and their father escalated. Lyle, in particular, became more rebellious, eventually leaving for Princeton University in New Jersey in 1987, only to be suspended for plagiarism the following year.
Murder of José and Kitty Menendez
On August 20, 1989, José and Kitty Menendez were brutally murdered in their Beverly Hills home. José was shot six times with a shotgun, and Kitty sustained 10 gunshot wounds. The nature of the crime was so vicious that police initially speculated it might be a mob hit. Lyle Menendez, then 21, called the police nearly two hours after the murders occurred. Early investigations focused on José’s business dealings, suspecting rivals or individuals with whom he had conflicts. However, the brothers’ behavior in the months following the murders raised suspicions, as their extravagant spending seemed inconsistent with grief. Lyle purchased a Rolex watch, a Porsche, and made a $300,000 down payment on a restaurant, while the two brothers spent a total of $700,000 in just six months.
Their lavish lifestyle triggered suspicion, prompting the police to investigate the Menendez brothers further. During a lunch with a friend who was wearing a wire, Erik denied involvement in the murders. However, later, Erik confessed the killings to his therapist, L. Jerome Oziel. Lyle threatened to kill the therapist if he disclosed the confession, but Oziel shared the information with his girlfriend, who alerted the authorities. In March 1990, the Menendez brothers were arrested.
Trials and Conviction
The case took a significant turn with the introduction of taped confessions made by Oziel, sparking legal debate over doctor-patient privilege. Eventually, portions of the tapes were admitted into evidence. In late 1992, Lyle and Erik Menendez were indicted on first-degree murder charges. Their trial, which began in July 1993, became a national spectacle, largely due to its broadcast on Court TV. The brothers, tried separately, claimed they killed their parents in self-defense, alleging years of sexual and psychological abuse by their father. Lyle testified that his father had raped him as a child, and their defense presented photos they claimed José had taken of his sons’ genitals. Erik testified that they feared José would kill them after Lyle threatened to expose his father as a child molester.
Prosecutors, however, argued that the brothers’ motive was financial, pointing out that José had reportedly planned to write them out of his will shortly before the murders. In 1994, the trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict. The retrial, which began in 1995, saw both brothers tried together, and this time, the judge limited testimony regarding the abuse claims. The jury was also not allowed to consider manslaughter as a lesser charge. In July 1996, Lyle and Erik were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Life in Prison
The Menendez brothers were initially incarcerated in separate prisons, with Lyle sent to Mule Creek State Prison and Erik to a different facility. Despite the separation, they maintained contact through letters and even played chess by mail. Over the years, Lyle has sought a new trial, but his appeals have been consistently denied. In February 2018, Lyle was transferred to San Diego’s R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where Erik was also incarcerated. The brothers were reunited after more than 20 years, and their emotional meeting was widely reported. Journalist Robert Rand described how the brothers “burst into tears” and hugged when they saw each other for the first time in decades.
Lyle has worked to improve his life in prison, serving as president of the inmate government and leading a support group for survivors of sexual abuse. In recent years, the brothers have gained some public sympathy. In 2023, comedian Rosie O’Donnell publicly supported their release after watching a docuseries in which a former boy band member accused José Menendez of sexual assault. O’Donnell has since become close with Lyle, and in a video, she called for the Menendez brothers to be freed, citing their abusive upbringing as justification for their actions.
Personal Life
Lyle Menendez has been married twice while in prison. In 2003, he married Rebecca Sneed, a magazine editor, describing their relationship as “steady and involved,” despite the limitations of their situation, including the prohibition of conjugal visits. Prior to his marriage to Sneed, Lyle wed Anna Eriksson, a former model and pen pal, in 1996. Although the relationship helped him cope with life behind bars, the couple divorced in 2001.
Throughout his time in prison, Lyle has expressed deep remorse for his role in the murders. In a 2017 interview, he stated, “This tragedy will always be the most astounding and regrettable thing that has ever happened in my life.”