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Danielle Cabrera

Professor Willson

English 99-1001

December 11th,2017

The Menendez Brothers

The world was shocked back on March 8, 1990 when two brothers were accused of

murdering their parents. Their parents were Jose Menendez and Mary “Kitty” Menendez. Their

sons Lyle and Erik Menendez were arrested for the killing of their parents. Who are Lyle and

Erik Menendez? How were they brought up? Did something happen in their childhood to make

them do such a horrific crime? There were two reasons that seemed to be the answer.

Investigators had little to no evidence until someone came forward with a tale of confession. The

brothers had to sit through two different trials. How is life in prison for Lyle and Erik? After the

investigation, people learned that the Menendez brothers have a complex history.

The brothers were born into wealth and privilege. They moved from the East Coast to the

West Coast and settled in Calabasas, California. Joseph Lyle Menendez was born on January

10,1968 in New York City, New York. Overall, Jose, Lyle’s father, wanted him to be more

successful than he was. To achieve this standard, Jose became stern, domineering, perfectionist

father and controlled what Lyle would eat, who Lyle associated with and what books and

television shows he was exposed to. In grade school, his father would question Lyle about

current events and berate him for unsatisfactory answers. Lyle’s mom supported his father’s

method and he was subjected to his fathers mood swings. This put a tremendous pressure on

Lyle who developed a bed-wetting problem at the age of 14 and suffered from lack of sleep and
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he also came to have a fierce temper. Lyle ended up going to Princeton University but was

suspended for academic dishonesty. Erik Galen Menendez was born on November 27, 1970 in

Gloucester Township, New Jersey. Erik grew up in the shadow of not only his domineering,

controlling father but also in the shadow of his older brother Lyle. Erik also endured having his

every action, friend, activity and even his thoughts managed by his father. Erik was also

subjected to high pressure questions and answer sessions but not as bad as his brother Lyle

because he and his father weren’t that close. Erik was closer to his mom Kitty. Erik was shy and

sensitive, and the pressure took a toll on him and he developed stomach pains, stuttering and

habitual teeth-grinding. Erik didn’t have very many friends growing up. Erik wanted to go to

college out-of-state but that was overruled after Lyle has trouble at Princeton. Erik became very

frustrated by his parents being overbearing and very controlling manners and his tense home life.

There are two main reasons that came out why Lyle and Erik would murder their parents.

Lyle and Erik claimed that their father would sexually abused them for years. Lyle at age 8 once

had mentioned it to his cousin Diane Vander Molen that he and his father would touch each other

down there. Diane said something to their mother Kitty. Diane could tell by her actions that their

mother Kitty did not want to believe this accusation. Diane thought it was taken care of because

Lyle never brought it up again, but the brothers stated that their father used objects such as a

toothbrush and some sort of shaving utensil brush. Lyle stated that his father would rape him,

and he also stated that he would sometimes sleep in the same bed as his mother and touch her

“everywhere.” Kitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen stated that she believed the brothers were

abused. She stated that when Jose was with any of his boys, especially Erik you weren’t allowed

to go to the floor. No one could go on that floor not even their mom Kitty. Kitty’s brother Brian

Anderson stated that his sister would never abuse her sons and she would dismiss all the
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allegations. Lyle and Erik’s families were torn when the allegations came out during the trials.

The proof of abuse was only circumstantial. Lyle and Erik were going to inherit millions of

dollars once their parents died. Erik overheard his mother Kitty talking to a friend about not

leaving any money to the boys because they were being irresponsible, and she had gone on the

computer and changed their will. Five weeks after the murder, Lyle and Erik received $400,000

in life insurance money. Each one went on their own shopping spree. Lyle bought a $64,000

Porsche, a Rolex watch, a restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey. Erik bought a $50,00 tennis coach

to help him get into University of California, Los Angeles, a brand-new Jeep Wrangler and

invested $40,000 in a rock concert. They moved into luxury apartments in Marina Del Ray,

California. Lyle and Erik blew through the money they got in a really short period of time.

The police received a 911 call from the Menendez house. Lyle was crying and screaming

when he told the cops that someone killed his parents. Lyle and Erik were so convincing that

they were distraught that first responders thought that it was unnecessary to test their hands and

clothing for gun powder residue. The first responders allowed Lyle and Erik to embrace and

console each other in which would look like genuine show of heartache. Police investigators

compromised the case early on and broke protocol for not testing the brothers for gunpowder

residue. Lyle and Erik were questioned the night of the murders but did not sit in a formal

interview until 2 months after the murders. Police investigators were informed from Lyle and

Erik that it could possibly be a mob hit. Lyle and Erik’s parents were both shot in the kneecaps

police were not buying the story because the murders were overkill and no shell casings were

found. If a mob was to hit, the mob would not have picked up the shell casings. Lyle and Erik’s

confession on a tape that they committed the murders is where the unraveling of the brother’s

fate began. Erik was meeting with his psychologist L. Jerome Oziel and started telling him about
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his involvement in the murders. The murders had taken an emotional toll on him and he needed

somebody to vent to. Lyle found out that Erik confessed to his therapist, Lyle then threated to

kill Oziel if he reports it to the authorities. Oziel’s mistress Judalon Symth, listened in from the

waiting room and recorded the confession as well. Symth went to the authorities with the tape

and told the police since Lyle had threated Oziel it was no longer doctor – patient privilege.

The 1st trial was televised and started in July 1993. Lyle and Erik had separate juries. It

was ruled that the confession can be played and use them in the 1st trial. Lyle and Erik’s defense

were that they were sexually and emotionally abused. They shot their parents in self-defense

because they believed that their father would kill them rather than having the sexual abuse be

exposed. Lyle and Erik got on the stand with still very compelling stories of abuse they received.

The 1st trial ended in a hung jury and was declared a mistrial.

In the 2nd trial, there was only one jury for both brothers. This trial was excluded any

corroborating evidence of sexual abuse. The media was not allowed in the court room during this

trial. The 2nd trial came to the guilty verdict. Lyle and Erik received life in prison without the

possibility of parole. Lyle is serving his life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione,

California. Erik is serving his life sentence at Richard J. Donavan Correctional Facility in San

Diego, California.

Lyle and Erik have been in prison for 30 years. Lyle has been the President of the inmate

government. Lyle also runs a support group for prisoners who has endured childhood sexual

abuse. Lyle is married to his second wife Rebecca, they got married in 2003 and they are still

married today. Erik spends his time with terminally ill prisoners. Erik married his wife Tammy

in 1997 and they are still married today. Although the brothers haven’t seen each other in 30
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years, they remain in contact by sending letters each other. Lyle and Erik’s family members say

they are still very close despite not seeing each other.

People are still fascinated about this high-profile murder case after 30 years. There are

still many questions that people have because they are still answered. Lyle and Erik claimed they

did it because of the years of being sexually abused but there is no concrete evidence. Did Lyle

and Erik do it for money since they spent a lot of money months after the murders. Many people

believed that the brothers abuse defense and don’t understand how the brothers got life sentence.

We may never know the answers to these questions. Lyle and Erik may take it to their grave

because they are never getting out of prison.

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Works Cited

Harris, Janelle. “Menendez Brothers: Everything You Need to Know.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone,

30 Oct. 2017, www.rollingstone.com/. Accessed on 1 Nov. 2017.

Helling, Steve. “The Menendez Brothers Are Still Very Close Despite Being Housed in Separate

Prisons.” PEOPLE.com, 3 Sept. 2107, www.people.com/. Accessed 28 Nov 2017.

Menza, Katlin. “Where Are Lyle and Erik Today .” Town and Country,3 Nov. 2017,

www.townandcountry.com/. Accessed 3 Nov 2017.

Pearson, Muriel. “Lyle Menendez on Prison Life.” ABC News, 4 Jan. 2017,

www.abcnews.com/.Accessed on 31 Oct 2017.

Raft, Cait. “Lyle Menendez Speaks out about after Killing Parents.” Welcome to Usmaganize.com, 6

Jan. 2017, www.usmaganize.com/. Accessed on 31 Nov 2017.

Velocci, Carli. “7 Questions We Still Have about the Menendez Trial.” TheWrap, 26 Sept. 2017,

www.thewrap.com/. Accessed 1 Nov 2017.