Sentenced to life in prison in 1996, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murdering both of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in Beverly Hills. Coming from a rich, educated background, much speculation circled the trial and the media speculated the most. Devastatingly, all was not as it seemed. Lyle and Erik painfully recalled their experience about being raped and physically abused by their father and mentally and physically abused by their mother while she hid it for her husband.

“What we will prove to you is that the murders were committed out of fear, fear of two parents who were so brutal, so manipulative, so sexually perverse, that they drove their own sons to the most desperate act of defilement,” said Jill Lansing, Lyle’s trial attorney.

For most of the trial, Erik was on antidepressants and often both brothers broke down in tears. 

Jose Menendez, arguably one of the most evil fathers to exist, molested Lyle from ages 6-8 and Erik from ages 6-18. Lyle testified Jose also punched him in the mouth and stomach and whipped him with a belt. Kitty Menendez would lock Erik in the closet until he finished his homework and kept the “family secret” at the cost of her son’s mental and physical health. Erik put lemon on all of his food because that would make the taste of his fathers secretion go away. After all of this brutal information, some of the media still claimed they were spoiled or did it for the money. After 35 years of imprisonment, the Menendez brothers are up for a retrial with new evidence leading to their potential release. 

The new evidence, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, is a letter from one of the brothers to another family member mentioning the molestation and a testimony from a member of the boy band Menudo stating Jose Menendez molested him when he was younger. The public and people involved, are hopeful that this new evidence will shed more light on their past and will bring them to justice. Lyle and Erik deserve to be released. Erik has a daughter and a wife he should live happily with and Lyle, this past June, earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. The brothers have taken part in therapy. 

They do not need to be in prison, they need to get more therapy and live peaceful, free, lives. They have paid their dues, I would argue to a greater extent than necessary. They are normal human beings who rebelled in an act against tremendous abuse and harm. They were trapped in a house for many years and then incarcerated, now aged 53 and 56, they deserve to grow older in a happier environment. To this day, many argue had they been women, they would be free. It is one of the most unfortunate crimes of society to not believe men as victims. The Menendez brothers have gone through some of the worst things humanity can ever do to a child.

Image from TODAY via YouTube