The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, marked a dark anniversary on Aug. 20, 2024 — 35 years since they murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
While José, an entertainment executive, and Kitty, a former teacher, watched TV in their Beverly Hills home on Aug. 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik shot them at point-blank range with shotguns — then called 911 themselves, saying they came home from a night out and found their parents’ dead bodies. Intrigue in the case was almost immediate, with initial investigations looking into the mob as potential suspects.
But the notes from the brothers’ therapist, a shotgun casing and a screenplay pointed to Lyle and Erik, whom prosecutors claimed were privileged, spoiled and eager to cash in on their father’s $14 million fortune. Lyle and Erik had three separate trials, during which they alleged that José was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive and that Kitty was addicted to drugs and alcohol, physically abusive…
