On August 20, 1989, Beverly Hills became the scene of one of the most shocking crimes in recent American history: the murder of an entertainment industry executive in Hollywood. Jose Menendez and his wife, Kitty Menendez. What seemed like just another day in the exclusive Californian neighborhood ended in tragedy when the Menéndezes’ bodies were found in their home, victims of gunshots. Even more shocking was discovering that those responsible for this crime were his own sons, Lyle and Erik Menéndez, then 21 and 19 years old. More than 30 years after the event, this dark case has once again gained attention due to the premiere on Netflix of the documentary The Menéndez Brothers and the series Monsters: the story of Lyle and Erik Menéndezwhich explore in detail the events of that time.
© Getty ImagesInitially, the brothers claimed that they had found their parents dead, but the police investigation revealed inconsistencies in their version. Suspicions grew when it was discovered that, after the death of their parents, both brothers began to spend the inheritance on a life of luxury and excess, squandering in just five years more than 9.2 million euros of an estimated assets of 14, 5 million. The Menéndez family had a considerable fortune, reflected in high-value properties, including the crime mansion valued at $4.4 million and another property in Calabasas worth $2.4 million, as well as jewelry and luxury cars. However, the most valuable asset was just over 6 million in company shares. Live Entertainmentof which the Cuban José Menéndez was executive director.
© Getty ImagesThe trial, televised in 1993, revealed the speed with which Lyle and Erik squandered this fortune, in addition to facing losses due to the devaluation of various assets. The Beverly Hills mansionmarked by this murder, was finally sold for 3.6 million, of which a large part was used to cover tax debts. Live Entertainment’s shares also lost value, making the inheritance smaller and smaller.
© Getty ImagesRecently, the possibility has arisen of review the Menéndez case after new evidence that would support the allegation of sexual abuse by his father, a line of defense that at the time led to a first jury being unable to reach a verdict and repeating the trial. If the brothers, who have been serving a life sentence for 35 years, were to be released on parole, they would not be able to access the remaining inheritance. California state law prevents someone convicted of murdering a person from benefiting from their estate. Furthermore, the growing accumulated debts of the Menéndez family would have greatly depleted the funds, which would be used to cover these liabilities before the brothers.
© Getty ImagesHowever, the hopes of freedom for the Menéndez brothers have been somewhat diluted these days after the electoral defeat of George Gascón, the Los Angeles County district attorney, who had recently requested a reduction in sentence by Erik and Lyle Menendez. Gascón, a renowned progressive prosecutor in the United States who had held the position since 2020, lost re-election to the Republican Nathan Hochmanas announced Associated Press this Wednesday.
© Getty ImagesIn one press conference on October 25 in it Los Angeles Hall of JusticeGascón surprised by announcing his intention to ask the court to change the brothers’ current sentence—life in prison without the possibility of parole—to a sentence of 50 years to life in prison. This adjustment would allow them to “immediately” apply for parole, given the circumstances and age they were at the time of the crimes.
© Getty ImagesWith the departure of Gascón, who advocated for a more humanitarian judicial reform, the future of the Menéndez brothers is once again left up in the air since Hochman’s victory could mean the end of their hopes of obtaining the sentence reduction that could lead them to regain freedom.