In 1996, Erik and Lyle Menendez had been convicted of murdering their dad and mom, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez in 1989. They had been sentenced to life with out parole—whereas even way more harmful killers like Ed Kemper are assessed for launch each few years. New proof in 2024 might drastically alter the place the Menendez brothers at the moment are.
The place are the Menendez brothers now?
The brothers had been initially incarcerated in separate prisons as a result of it was believed they may conspire to flee collectively. Lyle was finally moved from Mule Creek State Jail to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California, which is the place they’re now. They had been reunited for the primary time in 2018.
How did they get there?
The brothers’ major protection to the ugly murders of their dad and mom was that they’d been sexually abused by their father, for which their mom provided no safety. Dr Ann Burgess, a psychiatric medical nurse who makes a speciality of trauma victims, testified to assist their argument—that the worry of abuse “rewired” their brains.
“A big quantity extra pictures had been fired than had been essential,” she mentioned at trial, per the New York Occasions. “That will communicate to a extra pervasive emotion than only one emotion equivalent to anger or rage. It could communicate to a wider side equivalent to worry.”
They had been tried twice. The primary resulted in a hung jury as a result of a call on whether or not the crime was homicide or manslaughter couldn’t be reached. Within the second trial, prosecutors dismissed Dr. Burgess’ testimony, the choose wouldn’t even permit it. As talked about, they had been convicted of murder and given life with out the opportunity of parole.
In March 2024, the Menendez brother’s lawyer, Cliff Gardner, mentioned a letter from the boys to their cousin, Andy Cano, written in December 1988, is proof of the abuse. Revealing its existence in 48 Hours, It was by no means introduced at trial.
“I’ve been making an attempt to keep away from Dad. It’s nonetheless taking place, Andy, however it’s worse for me now. … Each evening I keep up pondering he may are available. … I’m afraid. … He’s loopy. He’s warned me 100 occasions about telling anybody, particularly Lyle,” the letter reads, per CBS Information. Cano did testify on the brothers’ trial, however prosecutors mentioned he was mendacity. He died in 2003.
Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, has additionally come ahead claiming that he was sexually abused by Jose Menendez within the early ’80s when Rossello was a minor and a member of the band. Whereas the LA District Lawyer is wanting into these contemporary allegations, there’s no phrase on when or what a choose may rule.
