Although I don’t like giving attention to convicted murderers, I find many of these true crime cases fascinating. One of these cases is the murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
The Menendez’s were a very successful family in Los Angeles. Jose Menendez was a successful music producer who later became involved in the film industry. In 1989, he was making roughly $500,000 annually.
Jose and Kitty had two children, Lyle and Erik. The boys were very spoiled, and used to getting anything they wanted. They drove expensive cars, attended the best private schools, and were given lessons on their tennis game. This wasn’t enough.
In 1988, the boys were caught stealing $100,000 worth of money and jewelry from their neighbors Calabasas home. Jose paid off the neighbors and made younger brother Erik take the fall so Lyle wouldn’t ruin his reputation for possible enrollment at Princeton. Because of this incident, the family moved to Beverly Hills to avoid embarrassment.
“By that same winter, Lyle had been kicked out of Princeton for cheating on a psychology 101 exam. He returned home with his tail tucked between his legs. His father was furious. He started to believe that his sons would never amount to anything. The brothers worried that they might be kicked out of their Beverly Hills home and forced to work for a living. They also feared they would be dropped from their father’s will. Jose Menendez was worth $14,000,000.”
On August 17, 1989, Lyle drove to San Diego and purchased two sawed-off shotguns. Three days later Jose and Kitty were murdered. “Just days after the murders, the Menendez brothers went on a shopping spree purchasing new Rolex watches, a new Jeep for Erik, a Porsche for Lyle and tennis lessons for both of them. They stayed at $2,000-a-night hotels and claimed to be hiding from the Mafia. Lyle even bought a chicken wing restaurant in Princeton.
Lyle seemed nonplussed about the murders and kept quiet. Erik, on the other hand, could not keep his mouth shut. He blabbed to a friend that he had killed his parents. He also told his psychologist of the deed.”
Because of this, the psychologist told his girlfriend, and the girlfriend went to the police. Their first trial was a mistrial. The second they were convicted.
I took a tour of Hollywood that took us to the home of Jose and Kitty Menendez. It is very eerie to picture the horrible things that took place there. In an interview with the brothers, Lyle says that no one came or called the police after they murdered their parents. They couldn’t believe that in Beverly Hills no one would report gun shots. Because of this, they made up the story that their parents had been murdered. Scary…oh, as a side note, both men got married while in prison.
(All information provided by ID: Hollywood Crimes)
The second trial judge was totally right to deny admission of evidence regarding the sexual abuse innuendo! The only issue(s) would have been insanity or self defence! I did not understand why the death sentence was not imposed as the special circumstances were present. Remember one of the brothers testified that he reloaded his shotgun and shot his mother a second time as she tried to crawl to safety. These two monsters deserved no mercy, period! The fact that a TV series has been developed, that they have been allowed to marry while in custody speaks volumes as to America is losing any sense of moral high ground! Think about it, if someone shot you, or your parents or your kids like this…what do you think would be proper justice?
Wow Tricia! So angry! No one is saying they weren’t abused,etc. Just reviewing the case…Hope you enjoyed the post! Kori xoxo
yet you failed to mention that these kids were being abused physically, psychologically and sexually (this has been proved true, via a forensic psychologist) for YEARS! Jose Menendez was a horrific man who was very domineering and evil especially, if his son’s didn’t do exactly what he said, he would beat them, and berate them in front of others. Along with the fact that Jose did molest both boys for 3 to 5 years, Erik was abused longer than Lyle(being victim to this over long periods of time, will cause people especially teens/young adults to act out in radical ways..cheating, stealing, spending money out of control) Also Lyle and Erik’s mother Kitty was a drunk who did nothing to protect her children because she was afraid of her husband for one, and for another she didn’t want Jose to take out his anger on her and cut her off from the lifestyle she was now used to after growing up poor. So do I agree with what they did? NO. But do I understand it, Yes. Are they guilty, yes, they admitted to that, but was it because they are also evil and cold blooded murderers, just because they showed no remorse and spent their parents money after killing them? No.. would you feel remorse if the man who abused you for years and the woman who knew and stood by doing nothing to protect you, were dead? Doubt you would be upset, or hold any feeling of remorse.
Bunny – funny you should mention their hair, or lack thereof… the big thing I remember from this whole story (other than the dudes were insane and pure evil) was that they actually came to the city I live (B’ham, AL) to get hair plugs put in – evidently there was a ‘new’ procedure for that, and whatever doc that ‘created’ it was based HERE, of all places… dudes from all over the place were heading here for the procedure… not sure when they were here, tho – something tells me it was before the murders….
anyway, my 2 cents… very informative post, Kori!
Hope you are doing well!!!
VKMfan
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So obsessed with this story you have no idea. It was more diabolical than the OJ story.
Nice karma in the bank for your next life, boys.
I remember this, I was in High School. They seemed so disconnected from the whole thing.
I love true crime stories. Thanks for sharing this. I was too young at the time to remember or understand much of it.
xoxo,
nicolette
I remember this all too well. It was on the news for weeks. But what’s so surprising to me is that, both sons wore toupee’s…lol Seriously..look at the head of hair on both sons….FAKE…
tootles,
bunny
I followed this case closely and it still boggles my mind how callous these two are. Can you believe that any woman would find them worthy of marrying, dumb!
Hope you are well sweet friend!!
Hugs,
Karyn
I remember the case well. And don’t you just love a judicial system that allows convicted murderers in prison to marry? How nice.
That is a crazy story!
I can certainly remember the sensationalism by the media over this horrible tragedy. I always felt that it was a cold blooded double murder by both of the boys.
Of course, that is only my opinion. If they did I guess they will have to answer for it “later”!! WTH…who in their right mind would marry someone in prison?? Takes all kinds…..
**Smiles**
Marilyn
xxoo
I just get the shivers reading this! It is interesting though.They seemed to show no remorse,that’s the scariest part to me.
😮 jaw dropping what happened to the brothers? how long did they get sentenced in jail for? what about there wifes? wow ima luk more deep into this one.
-cris