On the night of Sunday, August 20, 1989, Jose Menendez, a powerful music executive and his wife Kitty were found shot to death in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their two sons, Lyle and Erik, were ultimately convicted of their murders and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But was this an act of cold blooded murder, or were the boys justified in their actions? Today we deep dive into the true story of the Menendez brothers to try to make sense of what REALLY happened and more importantly, why it happened.

Todays sources include:

Crime Scene Photos: Inside the Grisly Double Murder of Lyle and Erik Menendez’s Parents - Tod Betzold
https://radaronline.com/p/menendez-crime-scene-gallery/#

The shocking 911 call the Menendez brothers made just moments after killing their parents as new Netflix show retells the harrowing tale - Alice Wade
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13872773/menendez-brothers-audio-police-parents-dead-killed.html

Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents - Biography.com Editors and Jordan Zakarin
https://www.biography.com/crime/menendez-brothers-murder-case-facts

Lyle and Erik Menendez’s Cousin Who Testified About Their Sexual Abuse Speaks Out for First Time - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/US/lyle-erik-menendezs-cousin-testified-sexual-abuse-speaks/story?id=44420173

The Gruesome, Real-Life Murders Behind Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” - Emiliana Betancourt https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/monsters-lyle-and-erik-menendez-true-story-1236148334/#

Menendez Brothers’ Trials: 1993-94 & 1995-96
https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/menendez-brothers-trials-1993-94-1995-96

DA wants Menendez brothers resentenced, which could free them from prison for parents’ murders - Phil Hershel and Antonio Planas https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/menendez-brothers-resentence-prison-murder-da-george-gascon-rcna175627

Where are the Menendez Brothers Now? - Sara Kettler and Biography.com editors
https://www.biography.com/crime/a46572449/menendez-brothers-now

The Menendez brothers built a green space in prison. It’s modeled on this Norwegian idea - Vanessa Gera, Jan M. Olsen and Stefanie Dazio
https://www.yahoo.com/news/menendez-brothers-built-green-space-111628919.html

Dominick Dunne's Courtroom Notebook: The Menendez Murder Trial

Snapped: The Menendez Brothers

The Menendez Brothers - Netflix