The story of Lyle and Erik Menendez is a well-known case that still remains relevant in today’s society despite its occurrence 35 years ago. Two brothers with wealthy parents, a mansion in Beverly Hills, and an Ivy League education waiting for them would have no reason to kill their parents… right?
The Menedez brothers have spent nearly 35 years in prison with no possibility of parole until recently this past month, with their case being reopened. During their trial, the brothers gained a tremendous amount of support from people who believed they should be free despite the crime they committed.
With the production of many TV series and documentaries re-telling the life of the Menendez brothers, the public has been able to see their story told through many different perspectives. Most recently following the release of Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story created by Ryan Murphy and The Menendez Brothers documentary, a new light has been shone on the case, as social media broadcasted the tale of the brothers.
Lyle and Erik Menendez had what seemed to be the perfect family. However, in emotional interviews and vulnerable statements given in court, the brothers revealed that their parents were incredibly abusive physically, sexually, and emotionally. Their father Jose Menendez made them victims of sexual assault on multiple occasions and would threaten the brothers with their lives if they told anyone of his unspeakable actions. Kitty Menendez, the boys’ mother, knew about this sexual abuse and chose to not report her husband or protect her children from him.
After years of torment and abuse, the brothers began to believe that their parents might try and murder them, so they decided to take action. In the argument of self-defense, the brothers shot their parents on August 20th, 1989 while they were watching TV one night in their living room.
Even after everything the Menendez brothers have been through and the fact that they are convicted murderers, they still have a large fan base that provides them with unwavering support and preaches that they should be freed from jail.
Lyle and Erik were extremely young when they committed this crime, but despite most people’s beliefs that their act of violence was for monetary gain or out of complete psychotic behavior, the brothers were clearly afraid for their lives and were victims of serious abuse. Seeing no other way out, they pulled the trigger. While this ended their abuse and fear of their parents harming them, it gave the brothers a lifetime sentence in prison and excessive amounts of trauma they would have to learn to cope with.
The idolizing of Erik and Lyle Menedez has become inappropriate and excessive, but at the core of the case, they are just two brothers who were looking for a way out of a seemingly never-ending cycle of mental manipulation and violent sexual abuse.
The murder committed by the Menendez Brothers was justified and necessary to save their own lives and ensure they would never be victims again. Despite the charges against them they are human and should not be behind bars for life.
Our society should recognize their crime, but they have been punished long enough and they deserve a chance to walk around unshackled from the burdens of their past with an opportunity for a brighter future.
