On Aug. 20, 1989, two brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, brutally killed their parents. Known as the infamous Menendez brothers, they had shot their mother and father, Kitty and José Menendez with shotguns. They called 911 themselves and stated that they had been gone all night and had come home to their parents’ bodies. Their attorneys claimed that the brothers had murdered Kitty and José due to years of sexual abuse.
In March 1996, both Lyle and Erik were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison. 21-year-old Lyle and 18-year-old Erik shocked the entire nation with the case captured in headlines worldwide. However, the case continues to draw attention from Americans, especially after Netflix made the show “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” as a series about the two brothers. But in 2023, the brothers’ lawyers petitioned to overturn the convictions due to new evidence.
The evidence consists of Erik writing a letter detailing the alleged abuse by José Menendez and a statement from a Menudo band member stating he was drugged and raped by José. Due to the new evidence, Los Angeles County District Attorney, George Gascón, filed a resentencing motion and the brothers will have another court hearing in December to consider their release.
Some people believe the brothers should be released due to their circumstances, while others think they could have sought alternative help instead of killing their parents.
“The case, in my opinion, is so misunderstood. The boys had their childhood ripped away, and they don’t deserve to be in prison for life without even any parole. I don’t think they are completely innocent, but they had a reason for the murder. I think that they deserve to be released or have a shorter sentence,” Miami Palmetto Senior High sophomore Sophia Fernandez said.
In light of the new evidence, Gascón spoke to the press, stating that “it [was] very clear that not only that there might have been sexual molestation, but they say this is a very dysfunctional, very abusive home, and it was so for many years.”
“I think they do deserve to have less of a sentence, because they obviously aren’t serial killers, although they did kill their parents, they had a reason for the murder due to their fear,” sophomore Naomi Fernandez said.
Gascón’s motion laid out details about the brothers’ rehabilitation efforts in prison, even when the brothers had no hope of being released. One of the Menendez family members found the letter, and the former Menudo band member came out with his claim that José sexually assaulted him in the 80s.
“From what I recall in the 80s, it was one of the first true cases that was so despicable in many ways,” AP English Language teacher Dalia Pulido said. “We need more than one letter that claims they were abused to free them, the way they committed the crime was just too horrific, and all of a sudden, a letter shows up, trying to claim their complete innocence.”
One of the brothers’ attorneys, Mark Geragos, told the press he believes they will be home before Thanksgiving. The official hearing is set for November 26.
