The recently released Netflix series Monsters has taken the country by storm, popularizing a murder case that had been closed for over 35 years. The show centers around brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez who were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Immediately after the show was released, people’s reviews were split. Some saw no issues with the series, while others claimed that the show painted the Menendez brothers the wrong way and told the story wrong. Monsters was released on September 21, 2024 and three weeks later on October 7, a documentary was released with interviews from the Menendez brothers, now ages 56 and 53. The two shows offer different perspectives on the brothers, and no one can quite figure out which one is right.
The Menendez brothers killed their parents in August of 1989. They originally told the police that they thought a mob had killed their parents because of business rivalries between the mob and Jose. However, after little evidence was found to make that story plausible, police began to investigate the brothers and later arrested them after Erik confessed to the murders to his therapist.
The trials for Erik and Lyle spread over three years. The cause of this long timeline was that both Erik and Lyle claimed that they had been physically and sexually abused by their father their entire life. This had never been said before, and people were taken aback. The brothers gained both fans and enemies, and while Erik and Lyle gave details and many stories to support their claim, many people were still not convinced. Because of this, the jury became deadlocked and a retrial was needed. The brothers were eventually found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
There have been a few documentaries and videos created to analyze the Menendez Brothers’ case, but the recent release of the Netflix series Monsters and later the release of documentary The Menendez Brothers provoked new opinions. The main difference between the two shows is that one is a dramatized series about the brothers, with small differences and events added here and there for entertainment purposes. The documentary instead uses interviews with Lyle and Erik themselves along with real film from the trials and true facts. Many people are angry because the series greatly dramatized the crimes and added small details that didn’t really happen. Ryan Murphy, the creator of Monsters, defended the controversial scenes by suggesting that they were “merely based on theories that existed during the trials”.
Recently, new evidence has surfaced, and prosecutors are revisiting the brothers’ conviction which could lead to their release from prison. According to the New York Times, “the Los Angeles County district attorney, George Gascón, announced that his office was reviewing the case after lawyers representing the Menendez brothers asked prosecutors to recommend a resentencing, a move that could lead to their release”. It is currently unknown what the outcome of the revisitation will be, but the media is waiting to jump on the decision.
In conclusion, the complete truth about the Menendez brothers is still unclear. Unfortunately, the only thing left to do is wait for the prosecution to make a decision if a retrial is called. Although the recent controversies have created problems for the brothers, the newfound attention could be just what they need to be released. Whether the brothers are monsters or just misunderstood, the question remains unanswered for the present.
