New Lyle & Erik Menendez Evidence Could Lead To Release?
Lyle and Erik Menendez are back in the news again. Twenty-eight years after their conviction for murdering their parents, the brothers have a chance to get released from prison early. This is thanks to new evidence that has come up in recent years that might prove they were telling the truth about the murders.
Here is the new evidence surrounding the Menendez murders and the brothers’ conviction.
New Evidence Released In Menendez Murder Case
Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989. The brothers claimed self-defense after abuse allegations. However, in 1996, a jury found them guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced them to life in prison.
However, they are back in the spotlight with the new miniseries Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story on Netflix. With the new spotlight comes some new evidence that might prove that the brothers were not lying about the reason for the murders.
The new evidence is a letter that Erik sent to his cousin, Andy Cano, eight months before the murders. In the letter, Erik wrote, “I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening, Andy, but it’s worse for me now. … Every night I stay up thinking he might come in” (via CBS).
The defense originally argued they killed their parents out of fear after lifelong abuse. The jury didn’t believe them and sentenced them to life sentences. However, there is more news that shows the brothers might have been telling the truth.
On top of Erik’s claims of sexual abuse by his father is the accusations from a former member of Menudo. Jose Menendez worked for a record label that helped discover and promote bands. In 2023, former Menudo member Roy Rossello said that Jose sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager.
This was all revealed in the Peacock documentary series Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed. He said that Jose abused him when he made a visit to the Menendez home in the 1980s.
Multiple Menendez Projects Could Sway Decision
Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story is already on Netflix. It is a based-on-real-life fictional retelling of the Menendez murders by Ryan Murphy. However, a second real documentary coming to Netflix in October, The Menendez Brothers, allows the brothers to tell their story for the first time.
With the crimes and conviction in the news again, attorney Cliff Gardner, representing the brothers, filed a habeas petition in May 2023. He believes the letter and the Menudo accusations are enough to overturn their convictions. He believes that if this evidence had been around in the 1990s, the jury would have seen the brothers’ side of the story.
If the court finds the new claims credible, the Menendez brothers could be granted a new trial, potentially leading to their release.
What are your thoughts on the new evidence that has surfaced in the Menendez brothers case? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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