Following the success of Dahmer, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan return with a new season in their Monster anthology series, this time focusing on the Menendez brothers.
Netflix will debut ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story‘ on September 19, featuring Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.Chloë Sevigny plays the role of Kitty Menendez, while their father, José Menendez, worked as a prominent entertainment executive. The series arrives two years after Dahmer became one of the most-watched shows on Netflix, surpassing a billion hours of viewing within 60 days, though it was controversial for its portrayal of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Murphy previously stated that his focus was not on Dahmer as a monster, but rather on understanding what made him who he was. This exploration of human complexity stirred both interest and discomfort among viewers. The Menendez brothers’ story examines who the true “monsters” are and presents a narrative that questions whether the brothers acted as cold-blooded killers or as victims of long-term abuse.
The Murders
On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez entered their family’s Beverly Hills home and shot their parents 14 times. Initially, police suspected a mob hit due to the brutal nature of the crime. However, the case took a turn when Erik’s psychologist’s mistress, Judalon Smyth, revealed that Erik had confessed during therapy. This led to the brothers’ arrest in March 1990, following a lengthy legal battle over the admissibility of recordings from Erik’s therapy sessions.
The Trials
The first trial, which began in July 1993, did not question whether the brothers committed the murders, but why. The prosecution argued that Lyle and Erik had planned the killings to inherit their parents’ $14.5 million estate, pointing to their lavish spending after the murders as evidence. In contrast, the defense argued that the brothers acted in self-defense after enduring years of physical and sexual abuse, particularly from their father. These allegations were supported by testimonies from family members.
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Despite media frenzy and live Court TV coverage, the trial ended in a mistrial, as jurors could not agree on whether the brothers were guilty of manslaughter or murder. In the second trial, the judge restricted media coverage and limited testimony on the abuse allegations. On March 20, 1996, the court convicted Lyle and Erik of first-degree murder and sentenced them to life in prison without parole.
The Aftermath
Following years of appeals, both brothers have come to terms with their life sentences. In a 2017 interview, Lyle expressed acceptance of his actions, acknowledging that his life would forever be defined by those moments.
However, recent developments have sparked renewed interest in the case. In 2023, former Menudo band member Roy Rosselló claimed that José Menendez sexually assaulted him in the mid-1980s. Additionally, an old letter from Erik to his cousin, detailing ongoing abuse, has resurfaced. The brothers’ attorney has pushed for a new trial due to these revelations, but the court has not yet made a decision.
This latest installment of Monsters aims to revisit one of the most notorious crime stories of the 1990s, questioning whether the Menendez brothers were indeed victims or villains.
