Menendez Brothers: Murder By Media re-examines this infamous true crime story from a fresh perspective. Did a swirl of media and politics put a thumb on the scales of justice in this case?
The show starts Saturday, 21st September at 9pm on Crime + Investigation.
The trial of the Menendez Brothers was one of the most infamous televised crime trials in American history. On 20th August 1989, affluent Beverly Hills brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez entered their parent's mansion and killed them with a 12 gauge shotgun.
The details of the case had the public hooked. The rich, hardworking father and beautiful homemaking mother were cut down in their own home by spoiled money-hungry children. The headlines practically wrote themselves. However, this case has much more than meets the eye, which became apparent as the trial began in 1995.
The brothers claimed to be victims of sexual abuse from their parents, especially their father. Although the claims still remain unsubstantiated, there is plenty of evidence to suggest the brothers were being truthful. This includes testimony from family members who claim that both Erik and Lyle confided in them about abuse when they were still just children.
The gruesome murders of José Menendez and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez are known around the world, but let’s dive into some facts that you might not know.
1. The Menendez family fled the Cuban Revolution
José Menendez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1944, growing up during the Cuban Revolution. He migrated with his family to Illinois when he was 16 as the revolution was ending. His family had been wealthy, but the Cuban government took part of their fortune.
Despite achieving good grades and earning an athletic scholarship, he could not afford to attend a pricier Ivy League college. Instead, he attended Southern Illinois University, where he passed his CPA exam and met his future wife. The two married in 1963 and moved to New York City. Once there, José continued to study to obtain a degree in accounting from Queens College.
José was truly the embodiment of the American Dream. His family fled a country torn apart by revolution and lost most of their wealth in the process. However, José overcame hardship to become a wealthy businessman.
2. They shared a mansion with pop royalty
José’s work took the family to Beverly Hills, where Erik and Lyle Menedez lived a luxurious life. They attended expensive private schools and lived in a Spanish-style mansion that had been previously rented out by Prince and Elton John.
3. Erik Menendez was a promising tennis player
Younger brother Erik had a passion for tennis, and he was talented. He ranked 44th in the United States as a junior player. He also reached the second round of qualifiers in the Boys Junior National Tennis Championship in 1989, which took place only two weeks before their parents’ murder.
4. Lyle and Erik Menendez previously stole expensive jewellery
The murder trial was not the first time the brothers had dealt with the law. In 1988, they broke into their neighbours’ homes to steal expensive jewellery and money.
They apparently did this so they wouldn’t have to ask their father for money. José didn’t like giving handouts to the boys and would lecture them about working hard for their own money. Eventually, the brothers stole more than $100,000 worth of jewellery and money. The detective investigating the burglaries got lucky when Erik was pulled over due to a driving violation. Some of the stolen property was found in his trunk.
Despite José’s anger over the crimes, he hired the best defence attorney he could find to represent his sons. No jail time was served, but the case was settled by absolving Lyle and pinning the crimes on Erik, as he was a juvenile with no other criminal record. They both had psychological counselling and Erik did community service while José paid off the victims.
5. They claimed the Mob murdered their parents
After the murders, it was rumoured that the Mob had been involved in the deaths. Lyle fuelled this speculation when he told his bodyguard - Richard Wenskoski - that he believed the Mob or the Cartel had killed his parents.
The motive was initially believable due to José’s place of employment having shady dealings with organised crime, but the bloody mess suggested otherwise. The Mob would have been precise when taking out hits, but these murders were brutal and bloody. Both victims were unrecognisable due to taking multiple shotgun shells to the face, head and other parts of the body. The unrefined, messy murders were one of the key factors that gave the brothers away.
