Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. In a sense, they had no choice but to be successful; Jos was known as a hard-driving father who would work his children to the bone in athletics and everything else. The police said the crime was motivated by greed, since they were set to inherit their parents $14-million estate. During the pandemic, the trial was streamed on Court TV, and with the new sets of eyes belonging to a generation more compassionate toward sex abuse victims, many voiced their opinion that Lyle and Erik should have been charged with manslaughter. They were shot multiple times at close range with a shotgun and rendered unrecognizable. Roy Rossell, 51, says in the upcoming docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed that Jos Menendez molested him while he was a teenage member of the group in the mid-1980s. Jos was born in Cuba, emigrated to the United States after the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s, living in the attic of a cousins home until he earned a college scholarship for swimming. This is not the only true crime story Netflix is tackling. After riding in a limo with Diaz and Jos, who looked like he wanted to devour me, and then being served wine that he now assumes was laced with a narcotic, Roys memory goes hazy and then outright blank. In 1980, he became head of the companys record division, RCA-Ariola. No matter how hard the final episode strains to paint this revelation in a momentous light, considerable skepticism remains. At the retrial, which began in October 1995, the judge was much more restrictive in allowing the defense attorneys to focus on the alleged sexual abuse. All Rights Reserved. The abuse had many negative effects on the boys, most importantly it made them hyper-vigilant and fearful and anxious nearly all the time. She even had an audiotape of the confessions. On a recent Sunday morning, Lyle Menendez sat in the day room at California's Mule Creek State Prison quietly talking on the phone about his dad Jose and mom Kitty, who he and his younger. Lyle Menendez . . Figuring out whether the tapes with the confessions fell under doctor-patient privilege or were admissible as evidence in court took two full years, with lawsuits and appeals flying back and forth between the prosecution and the Menendezs lawyers. In the ensuing 30 years, theyve maintained their victimization story, and now, a new Peacock docuseries purports to have evidence that might corroborate their allegations against Josand it comes from the unlikeliest of sources. [The Menendez trial] probably had the effect, maybe good, maybe bad, of demonstrating that, even if you didnt have a celebrity, if the circumstances were dramatic enough, people will be captivated, Steve Brill, the founder of Court TV, told Rolling Stone in 2017. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Lyle was arrested near their home on March 8, 1990, while Lyle, then competing in a tennis match in Israel, was arrested at LAX airport upon his attorney-arranged return to the United States. The Menendez family moved to the West Coast in the fall of 1986 when Jos whod previously made a career with RCA records accepted a job with a company called Live Entertainment. Right: Menendez married his prison pen pal Tammi Saccoman, a wealthy widow, in a jailhouse ceremony in 1999. While completing his degree in accounting at Queens College, Jose washed dishes at the Manhattan restaurant 21. You can see more of her writing at kaitlinmenza.com. Early on, investigators ran on the theory that Jos might have rubbed elbows with the mob in the course of his work. 1,679, This story has been shared 1,559 times. Last modified on Sat 7 Apr 2018 06.58 EDT. There was no evidence that this was a residential robbery, said Edmonds. The brothers moved out of the family's Beverly Hills mansion and stayed in a series of expensive hotels before finally leasing condominiums on the water in Marina Del Rey. Ignoring his own ethical responsibilities, Dr. Oziel taped the sessions with his new patient in an apparent attempt to impress his mistress. With a flurry of shotgun rounds, the brothers violently killed their parents, Jos and Kitty, doing enough damage to their bodies to render them nearly unrecognizable. Jose turned the struggling International Video Entertainment Inc. (IVE), a video distributor into profitability. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the double murder. When the pair returned home, Lyle called 911 and cried, Somebody killed my parents! The Menendez murders became a national sensation when the new television network, Court TV, broadcast the trial in 1993. Jos spent the early 80s as the head of RCA Records and had a hand in the signing of bands such as Duran Duran and The Eurythmics. Ive Been a True Crime Buff Since I Was Old Enough to Read. TikTok Users Dive Into The Menendez Brothers Case Lyle and Erik Menendez were both sentenced to life behind bars for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jos and Mary. Spectators were taken aback when, during opening arguments, Lyles defense attorney, Jill Lansing, told jurors, Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents.. The brothers, featured on ABC's 20/20 in April of 2021, have a new generation of. In 1996 Lyle and Erik Menendez were each sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, but even today Hart views the homicides as a reaction to gross parental misconduct, rather than the work of cold, calculating killers. Finally, the Supreme Court of California ruled that two of the three tapes were eligible to be used in the trial, including one that contained Lyles admission of guilt. "They shot and killed my parents," he sobbed. Thats something that happened, Lyle said, "but I dont think characterizing it that way is putting it in the right context.. The Menendezes had moved to Los Angeles just a few years before the murders so that Jos could take a job in the movie business. In 1996, when twentysomething brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez were on trial for the murder of their Beverly Hills parents, Jse and Kitty, their legal team argued that they had committed the . When on tour, Roy always slept in Diazs bedroom, and if he stepped out of line, he was physically attacked. Jos allegedly threatened to kill their sons to keep the truth from getting out, according to the brothers testimonies. killed. Erik and Lyle Menendez testify about sex abuse in graphic detail: Part 8. The Menendez brothers murder their parents Lyle and Erik Menendez shoot their parents, Jose and Kitty, to death in the den of the family's Beverly Hills, California, home. When Lyle and Erik were caught burglarizing neighbors' homes for the thrill of it, Jose used his money and influence to shield them from any real consequences, according to Vanity Fair. Lyle and Erik Menendez shoot their parents, Jose and Kitty, to death in the den of the familys Beverly Hills, California, home. The 55-year-old criminal and his 52-year-old brother were just 21 and 19, respectively, when they brutally murdered their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion on . 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Still, such notions are undermined by the sense that Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed is deliberately avoiding a comprehensive reexamination of the case. The Instagram account features a profile photo of the young brothers and has 238 followers. Despite Rand bringing this to the attention of Lyle, Erik, and their attorney Cliff Gardnerand he and Ynclan making excited and optimistic pronouncements about what itll mean for the Menendez boys fateits not clear that this is enough to move the legal needle. Even the brothers weepy descriptions of their fathers abuse earned them mockery. Despite their requests to be placed in the same prison, the Menendez brothers were separated and are still serving their life sentences miles apart to this day. He was focused, specific about what he wanted from business, very much in control. Of course, there are people from America, but I also met people from Hungary, and from France, she told the newspaper. Some said Jos planned to take Lyle and Erik out of the will for fears theyd blow their inheritance on their new girlfriends. Im not 90 percent sure; Im 100 percent sure., How could she be so confident? Nearly seven years, three trials and many thousands of hours of TV coverage later, their sons, .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Lyle and Erik Menendez, were found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. What you did was, you killed your parents and then began to spend their money. It was so brutal that police thought the killings were a mob hit, and early investigations focused on business rivals and a porn executive who had a bone to pick with Jos. I want to be senator and be with the people of Cuba, said Erik. Born in Cuba to "well-to-do business people and star athletes," Jose was 16 when his parents sent him to the U.S. in the late 1950s, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The trial began in 1993 and was broadcast on a relatively new cable network called Court TV, which was devoted to turning the legal system into a hybrid of entertainment and sporting event. They testified that they feared for their lives, after being subjected to years of sexual and physical abuse. Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills mansion. Unable to profess their innocence, Lyle and Erik instead claimed that their fathers reign of terror went far beyond emotional abuse and the pressure of high expectations. On Aug. 20, 1989, 21-year-old Lyle Menendez and his 18-year-old brother Erik stormed into their Beverly Hills mansion. Fabienne Bersching, who is 20 and lives in Germany, also launched an Instagram page about the brothers, according to The Times. Stream It Or Skip It: Kiss, Kiss! on Netflix, a Polish Rom-Com With an Oogy Womanizer Protagonist. Is The Nurse On Netflix Based On A True Story? 'Citadel' Episode Guide: When Do New Episodes Premiere on Prime Video? They were sentenced to life without parole. 3,830, This story has been shared 2,229 times. 998, This story has been shared 972 times. After the juries deadlocked in their first trials, Lyle and Erik Menendez were found guilty of first-degree murder in 1996 for the gruesome shooting deaths of Jos and . Sitting next to his fathers secretary Marzi Eisenberg in the limo home from the services, he showed off his leather loafers and quipped, Hey, Marzi, who said I couldnt fill my fathers shoes? Then he wondered aloud to another friend in the car how he could obtain tickets to the U.S. Open. The battle for the tapes dragged out for 30 months, until the Supreme Court of California intervened. Today, clips and videos of the trial have been shared across social media millions of times, many calling for justice. Erik married Tammi Saccoman, an attractive blonde with whom he'd been exchanging letters for six years. The brothers, featured on ABC's 20/20 in April of 2021, have a new generation of defenders - on Instagram and TikTok. They got what they deserved for a vicious crime where two people got murdered.. The famous interviewer literally cried out in disgust and annoyance. 1,717, This story has been shared 1,679 times. Streaming Schedule, Season 5, Part 2 Debut Info, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, 'American Horror Story' Season 12 Casts Michaela Ja Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne, Patti LuPone Blasts Kim Kardashian for Newly Booked 'American Horror Story' Role: "What Are You Doing With Your Life? Per the LA Times, Jose was earning $500,000 a year. Succession Features in Rupert Murdoch's Divorce, Rupert Murdoch Is Not Getting Married Again, Behold: Signature Poses of Your Favorite Royals. Once they moved to California, Erik began to run with some teenage delinquents, getting himself in trouble for a string of burglaries. So who is Jose Menendez? He decided to forgo attending UCLA and instead hired a tennis coach for $60,000 a year in the hopes of going pro. It was hard not to notice the money trail that led from the crime scene a $5 million estate that Elton John and Michael Jackson had each once called home to the brothers, who spent as much as. Over three decades later, some TikTok users believe that they were actually the victims. Roy Rossell, 53, an ex-member of the 1980s boy band Menudo, claims in the Peacock special that Jose Menendez sexually assaulted him when he was 14. Simpson, Caylee Anthony, the Zodiac Killer, and the Black Dahliathere is no mystery around the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez. From the events leading to that night to the media-fueled . She said everyone she talks to all have the same goal. On August 19, their parents chartered a yacht and took them shark fishing. He hired a team of bodyguards to accompany him on his shopping excursions, and later testified to their spoils, which included $40,000 worth of clothes and a $60,000 Porsche. It's Me, Margaret' Streaming on HBO Max or Netflix? Opinions nationwide were divided over whether they deserved to live and die behind bars. I believed every word he said, said juror Wendy Delahunt. When Walters called them spoiled, Erik protested, Im just a normal kid.. The Menendez brothers, who were convicted of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion nearly three decades ago, have been reunited in a . The upcoming Netflix doc could possibly reveal some new insights from the brothers over 30 years later. Lyle and Erik continue serving life sentences, regularly leading therapy groups behind bars. Smyth claimed Oziel recorded the brothers admissions on tape. 1,964, This story has been shared 1,768 times. In the initial trial, which ended in a mistrial, the Menendez brothers cited sexual and physical abuse by their father, leading them to commit the murders on August 20, 1989 at the family home in Beverly Hills. Courtesy Brian Anderson Peacocks docuseries basically assumes that same viewpoint, sometimes to a fault, skimming past discussions of the prosecutions case against Lyle and Erik (other than to say that they were portrayed by the district attorney as greedy rich kids) in order to avoid addressing any complicating (i.e., less flattering) details, and to guarantee that they come across as railroaded innocents. In fact, its primary focus turns out to be not Lyle and Erik, but Roy, whose first-person interviews dominate the proceedings. They also attended therapy sessions with Dr. Jerome Oziel. In the months that followed the slayings, neither Menendez brother acted like young men who had recently found both of their parents dead in a brutal, bloody murder scene. Joss mother, the boys grandmother, also supported Lyle and Erik throughout the trial, according to Delahunt. Erik (R) and Lyle Menendez (L) during a 1992 court appearance in Los Angeles, California, Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents a Look Inside Their Murder Case, G. Gordon Liddys Wild Career After Watergate, Law and Order True Crime: the Menendez Murders, Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers - American Sons, American Murders, located on one of the most exclusive blocks in Beverly Hills, got both Erik and Lyle on tape, confessing to the murders. The initial cases ended in mistrial because of a convincing (and surprising, when it was introduced) argument from the defense: Attorney Leslie Abramson and her team contended that both Lyle and Erik had been molested by their father since childhood. I had been told that right after his murder, people were pretty pleased that he was no longer on the earth.. Young people who were not alive at the time of the 1989 murders have been speaking out about the case, thanks in part to social media. In one horrific anecdote, Roy recalls getting caught trying to see a girl and being locked in a bathroom, nude, for the entire night, only to be viciously raped and beaten upon his release from captivity. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Police headed east to speak with the businessman, and though he admitted to being connected to the mob, he denied knowing anything about Jos and Kittys murders. Born in Cuba to well-to-do business people and star athletes, Jose was 16 when his parents sent him to the U.S. in the late 1950s. Part of the reason for that sidelining, it appears, is that Roy doesnt fully remember what took place. He believed that whatever had to be done should be done with no heart, if necessary, a colleague told Vanity Fair. The Abuse of Erik and Lyle Menendez was carried out by their parents, Jose and Kitty. The brothers didnt spend all of their six months of freedom shopping and dreaming out loud, though. Despite being a reputed difficult man and abusive husband and father, Jos Menendez had built a cushy life for himself and his family. In compelling testimony lasting over a month, they emotionally described years of sexual abuse by Jose and Kitty Menendez. He worked his way up the ladder at a number of businesses. Suspicions were raised when Lyle and Erik used the life insurance money to make head-turning purchases, including a Porsche Carrera, Rolex watches, and a $60,000-per-year tennis coach for Lyles continued lessons. '", Ana Navarro Jokes About Sara Haines' White House Correspondents' Dinner Antics on 'The View': "Maybe There Will Be a Restraining Order", Sunny Hostin Opens Up About Receiving Hurtful Emails on The View: Im Not Liked By Half The Country, Sunny Hostin Shades Meghan McCain for Scathing Column About 'The View': "Our Show Is a Wonderful Place". Their adjoining apartments had ample room for parties and movie nights with friends. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}G. Gordon Liddys Wild Career After Watergate. The show drew some controversy, namely from the families of the victims depicted in the series. Jurors heard Lyle, just days before the double murder, confronted his father about him continuing to sexually abuse Erik, which erupted into Lyle threatening to expose the familys dark secret. At the time, crime was this black-and-white thing, said Marcus. They testified that they feared for their livesafter being subjected to years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their father. Their father was a child molester. The second trial took place in 1995 and was far less sensational, as the judge did not allow TV cameras into the courthouse. To learn more about the case and all of its key players, watch Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, premiering May 2 on Peacock. He would work his children to the bone in athletics, especially tennis, and everything else, reported Biography. The investigation eventually turned to Lyle and Erik. During one of those visits, Roy says he saw Erik and Lyle, after which he was drugged and assaultedand he implies that this crime took place as an implicit means of sealing Menudos RCA deal. According to their statements, the brothers left to get their guns, returning a short time later. Before the new docuseries streams, get up to speed on this key figure in the Peacock special. 1,110, This story has been shared 998 times. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. They insisted that they had shot their parents in self-defense because they believed that Jose would kill them rather than have the abuse be exposed. Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their parents Jose Menendez, 45, a wealthy entertainment executive, and Kitty Menendez, 47, at their Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989. Unfortunately, though, Roys encounter with Jos winds up being an afterthought for long stretches of Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed. He was a sexual predator, Roy says about Jos at the outset of Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, thereby supporting Lyle and Eriks story about the cruelty they suffered at their dads hands. Leads ran dry, until months later, in March 1990, when a woman named Judalon Smyth went to detectives. On August 20, 1989, Jos and Mary Kitty Menendez were shot to death in their Beverly Hills home. Joseph Lyle Menndez (born January 10, 1968) and Erik Galen Menndez (born November 27, 1970) are American brothers who were convicted in 1996 of the murders of their parents, Jos and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menndez.. During the trial, the brothers stated that they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual . In 1988, after getting caught in a string of burglaries, Erik was required by the court to meet with a therapist named Dr. Jerome Oziel. Approximately $14 million is expected to be the net worth of Jose and Kitty Menendez. Though Oziels disclosure violated doctor-client privilege, it was enough for investigators to take a closer look at the brothers. The therapist reached out to Erik soon after the murders and began meeting with the younger Menendez brother, and soon enough, Erik confessed to killing his parents. The comment has accumulated 33 likes in three days. "I Wish Life Had Turned Out Differently for Them": Childhood Friend of Menendez Brother Speaks Out. There was also a $5 million life insurance policy on their father, though technicalities stopped them from collecting. Jose set high goals for himself and his sons. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Erik said that he fired first, but in the end Lyle fired best: He landed the bullet in the back of Joses head, and shot the fatal blow into Kittys face. Lyle and Erik Menendez cited emotional and physical abuse, among other reasons, for the gruesome 1989 killing of their mother and father. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It's their theatricality that has made the Menendez men so infamous, their flare for courtroom drama and off-putting outfits, and the. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. The case was assigned to former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Pamela Bozanich, whod worked in the organized crime sector. Their late mother's brother, Brian Andersen, dismissed the idea that their mother did anything wrong, telling ABC News, "The idea that Erik and Lyle were abused by my sister Kitty is absolute. Menudo Star Says Jos Menendez Assaulted Him. The night of the murders, the brothers told police theyd gone out that night to see a movie but had to make a pitstop to retrieve Eriks ID. Weve had lots of trials like that since, but that was really the one that proved that people would be interested in watching big trials.. What Happened to Bonnie Hood at Camp Nelson? Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The prosecution contended the brothers' motive was greed, pointing to their spending spree in the months following their parents' murders. The jury in Erik's case deadlocked on January 10, 1994; the jury in Lyle's case deadlocked two weeks later. Ryan Murphys record-breaking anthology series Monster is coming back to Netflix with yet another gruesome season. I am 100 percent sure that they fabricated their defense, she said. Los Angeles District Attorney The bloodied crime scene following Jose and Kitty Menendez's murder. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. During the trials, they claimed their father routinely administered physical and. Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed thus plays like the tip of a potential iceberg that has yet to be fully assessed. Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, the new, Roy Rossell, 53, an ex-member of the 1980s boy band Menudo, claims in the Peacock special that Jose Menendez sexually assaulted him when he was 14. After a merger with a Minnesota-based record company, IVE became known as Live Entertainment and is now known as Artisan Entertainment. They would high five each other because they pulled it off.. Lyle and Erik Menendez had grown up as children . He lived with a cousin in Pennsylvania before winning an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Right? hammered Deputy District Attorney Pamela Bozanich while Lyle was on the stand during his first trial. Immediately, it was announced that they would be retried. Kitty was 44. The house in which Jos and Kitty were killed was located on one of the most exclusive blocks in Beverly Hills and was at different times occupied by Michael Jackson and Elton John. The brothers have admitted to killing their parents. At the time of the murders, Lyle was 21 years old, and Erik was 18 years old. But during his trial, Lyle testified that they killed their parents out of fear after experiencing years of sexual and mental abuse in their household. The brother is serving life in prison for killing their parents on August 20, 1989. Much of Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed involves Roy speaking candidly and tearfully about his arduous ordeal, the multiple suicide attempts it instigated, and his hunger for justice. Erik, left, and Lyle, right, are pictured in this undated photo together with their father Jose, who was a successful Cuban-American business executive. The case especially gained attention as the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. In a preview for the docuseries that aired on, , Rossell points to an image of Jose Menendez and says, Thats the man here that raped me.. The first two juries (one for each brother) deadlocked, and a mistrial had to be called. It was those sessions that would lead to their eventual arrest. Parents Jos and Kitty Menendez were shot multiple times with a shotgun in the den of their mansion. Thats where he met his future wife, Mary Louise, who was known as Kitty. Well, why did you need to buy a Rolex watch four days after your parents were killed? Bozanich asked. Instead, people still interested in the Menendez Brothers fate had to wait for written news accounts of the events. They tossed the guns and changed into clean, unbloodied clothes, before driving back to their house and pretending to discover the scene all over again. He yelled and screamed a lot, he was brutal to people. The Menendez brothers' documentary and paper headlines dwelled on the concept of greedy rich kids who killed their parents for money. Lyle Menendez, then 21 years old, called 911 to report that he and his 18-year-old brother, Erik Menendez, had returned from the movie theater and the Taste of L.A. event in Santa Monica to find someone had murdered their mother and father. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! READ MORE: Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parentsa Look Inside Their Murder Case. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more.
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