logo
Menendez brothers' lives now from weddings to prison reunion after brutal attack

Menendez brothers' lives now from weddings to prison reunion after brutal attack

Daily Record14-05-2025

Erik and Lyle Menendez, recently made eligible for parole, were 18 and 21 when they shot their parents to death at point-blank range and much has changed after 30 years behind bars
It's been over three decades since Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez, with multiple gunshot wounds at their lavish Beverly Hills mansion. At the time, the brothers were aged just 18 and 21.
Their heinous crime, committed in 1989, eventually culminated in 1996 convictions for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The brothers received life sentences without parole, despite their lawyers' arguments that they had been subjected to years of sexual abuse by their father.

Fast-forward to the present, and the brothers' narratives were recently brought to life in the Netflix series Monsters. This week, in a significant turn of events, a Los Angeles judge revised their sentences to 50 years to life, rendering them eligible for parole.

However, the public's perception of the Menendez brothers remains frozen in time, thanks in part to archival court photographs and the recent on-screen portrayals of their younger selves by actors Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch. Yet, after spending over 30 years behind bars, Erik and Lyle, now both in their 50s, have undergone vastly different experiences.
We take a closer look at their current lives, starting with a reunion behind bars.
The conclusion of the Monsters series depicted the brothers being transported to separate prisons, contrary to their request to be housed together.
In an interview earlier this year, Erik, 54, recalled the "bullying and trauma" he endured during his early days in prison. Providing insights on the 2 Angry Men podcast, he said: "I was separated from Lyle, and I remember the day that I was told Lyle just got assaulted and got his jaw broken.
"I'm thinking he's over there, I'm going through this over here, and at least we could protect each other, maybe, if we were together, but we were not even allowed to be together."

Despite years of separation, in a twist of fate, Lyle, now 57, was transferred from California's Mule Creek State Prison to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego in 2018, where his brother Erik resided.
An ABC News report captured the emotional reunion after more than two decades apart: "They just hugged each other for a few minutes without saying any words to each other. Then the prison officials let them spend an hour together in a room."

Prison lives
As a result of their consistent good behaviour, the brothers have been housed in a "non-designated programming facility" within Donovan.
This specialised section provides inmates with additional liberties, encouraging rehabilitation and education, with academic subjects as well as yoga and art classes on offer.
Erik has channelled his time in incarceration towards aiding fellow prisoners, particularly those battling terminal illnesses. In 2018, his aunt told ABC News: "[Erik] was really making sure that the prisoners knew that there is a God that loves us. That was marvellous to me because he never got that at home."

The Menendez brothers, famous for their grim past, have channelled their artistic side by painting a mural on the walls of their unit and supporting individuals who suffered from childhood sexual abuse.
Marriages
Shooting their parents at close quarters at 18 and 21 and their subsequent conviction for murder hasn't stopped the brothers from finding love behind bars.

In 1999, Erik Menendez married Tammi Saccoman within the confines of Folsom State Prison. Tammi initiated contact during Erik's first trial, leading to a relationship culminating in marriage, and she also penned a book titled They Said We'd Never Make It: My Life With Erik Menendez.
Lyle has similarly navigated marital waters twice while in prison, initially with ex-model Anna Eriksson, which eventually led to divorce. In 2003, he wed Rebecca Sneed within the perimeter of Mule Creek State Prison.

Discussing his conjugal life, Lyle revealed to ABC News: "I've found I can have a healthy marriage that is complicated and built around conversation and finding creative ways to communicate, sharing, without all the props that are normally there in marriage in terms of going out to dinner and having as much intimate time together and so on."
Contrastingly, a source informed People last year that Lyle and Rebecca discreetly concluded their 21-year marriage. The parting has reportedly been established "for a while", and Lyle was said to be in a romance with a young student from Manchester.
Despite the separation, it is believed Rebecca continues to advocate for his release.

Freedom
Following the reduction of their sentences at Van Nuys Courthouse in Los Angeles, the brothers exchanged smiles and waves with their relatives. Throughout the hearing, they accepted responsibility for their criminal actions and expressed remorse for the falsehoods presented during the initial investigation.
Outside the courtroom, defence attorney Mark Geragos stated that it was a "great day" and that they were "one huge step closer to bringing the boys home".
The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, addressed the judge, advocating for a "second chance at life" for Erik and Lyle. She shared: "It's been a nightmare. I am desperate for this process to be over."
A further hearing is scheduled to take place within the next month, and a final decision regarding their potential release will be made by the state parole board in due course.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen no longer owns home after major life update
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen no longer owns home after major life update

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen no longer owns home after major life update

The 60-year-old nearly drowned while making a Netflix show. Changing Rooms millionaire Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen no longer owns his own home. The TV star and design guru has handed over his Cotswolds estate to his sons-in-law. The 60-year-old survived a terrifying ordeal during a Netflix production, with the "end of life crisis" coming while he was participating in the platform's 'Celebrity Bear Hunt'. In the midst of filming, Llewelyn-Bowen had a brush with death. The chilling event saw him falling unconscious after being pulled under a boat during a water stunt. Now focusing on his future, the 'Changing Rooms' icon is "no longer lord of the manor" at his Cotswolds property, where he resides in the main house with his wife Jackie, also 60. ‌ ‌ Their youngest daughter Hermione, 27, and her spouse also live at the property, while his eldest daughter Cecile, 30, lives just a stone's throw away on the same grounds with her husband and their two kids. Laurence said: "One of the most amusing things was having to sit down with a solicitor for them to assess whether Jackie and I were being coerced into this by our bullying sons-in-law. "Our friends just can't believe it. They go, 'what happens if you all fall out?'" With a net worth of £8 million, the celebrity penned in his Sunday Times column his rationale: "We're not going to be those old people sitting on a great big pile of cash. Terribly unhappy, terribly lonely. Owning a lot of stuff but not actually having the benefit of it. "We are very, very privileged, but we have made this decision. We have manifested this life." In an intriguing turn of events, the property deeds have been placed in the names of his daughters' husbands, with Hermione commenting: "Hilariously, Cecile and I aren't on the deeds, because we inherit it anyway - it's actually the husbands." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Llewelyn-Bowen opened up in a January column about the grave incident he experienced on Bear Grylls' survival show 'Celebrity Bear Hunt', which was broadcast the following month in February. His harrowing experience still weighed heavily on him. While filming in Costa Rica, the then-59-year-old interior designer was involved in a water-based task that required jumping from a boat. The Mirror reports he became entangled in a bungee line and was dragged underwater beneath the vessel. The frightening event extended for agonising minutes until the production's safety crew rescued the unconscious television star from peril. Before his stint on the reality show, the famous face reflected on his wife's opinion. ‌ He noted: "She feels it's got midlife crisis written all over it, although, as I keep telling her, I'm too old to have a midlife crisis, this is more like an end of life crisis. She's actually, frankly, incredibly jealous. She would love to do it and has always been mildly irritated that no one's ever asked her to do something like this. "Because she literally has always had in her handbag, a SAS Survival Guide, to get herself out of all sorts. I meant to bring it actually and again, how foolishly, I completely forgot." According to the Mail, Llewelyn-Bowen invited his offspring and their families over to his posh Cotswolds estate after a revelation. He and his wife Jackie realised they "were rattling around the house like dried peas in a luxury tin." The addition of family life added new vibrancy to their lives, with the celebrity musing: "We certainly aren't sliding into our sixtieth year with boredom calling. We want to use our time wisely and valuably. The way you design your world helps the way you feel. "We have our big manor house filled with children and pieces of brightly coloured plastic and Peppa Pig again. I think its something that more and more people should be doing, for us boomers generation we're all sort of surprised we've made it to 60. I think everyone thought we would live fast and die young rather than live very, very slowly and die really quite old."

Netflix time travel film with A-list star is 'everything you need from a movie'
Netflix time travel film with A-list star is 'everything you need from a movie'

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Netflix time travel film with A-list star is 'everything you need from a movie'

The 2022 sci-fi action comedy features an A-list Hollywood cast — right from Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo to Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldaña — bringing together some of the biggest names in the industry Netflix's ambitious 2022 film The Adam Project is a heartwarming sci-fi action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds who is supported by a top-tier, A-list cast of Hollywood's biggies. The film has been directed by Reynolds' longtime friend and collaborator, Shawn Levy, with writing credits for T. S. Nowlin, Jonathan Tropper, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett. ‌ Production on The Adam Project first began all the way back in 2012. At the time, Tom Cruise was said to be attached to the film, however the movie subsequently fell into developmental hell until it was rescued by Netflix as the streaming giant acquired its distribution rights. ‌ Set in a dystopian 2050, the Netflix original sees Reynolds take on the role of Adam Reed — a fighter pilot who steals a time jet in order to land in 2018 in a bid to save his wife Laura (played by Zoe Saldaña). Laura's assassination was ordered by Sorian (Catherine Keener) who is trying to monopolise time travel, however in his efforts, Adam ends up crash-landing in 2022 where he comes face-to-face with his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell). In 2022, the younger Adam is struggling with being bullied in school and has become distant from his mother Ellie (Jennifer Garner) after being severely impacted by the death of his father, Louis Reed (Mark Ruffalo), the previous year. On March 9, 2022, Ryan Reynolds' film had a limited "one night only" theatrical release, followed by its streaming release two days later — on March 11. The Adam Project proved to be extremely successful for Netflix, squarely ranking as the streamer's third most popular film worldwide at the time, garnering 157.6 million views within the first 28 days of its release. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics, with one saying: 'I enjoyed The Adam Project, its past, present, and future permutations an exciting joyride fit for the whole family.' ‌ While another reviewer was not that impressed: 'It's an assemblage of ideas from other popular films that just hangs there with little cohesion. It's like watching a movie that hasn't been made yet.' One critic felt it was: 'A movie with so many octopus ambitions is unlikely to pull off any of them, and that's the bind The Adam Project finds itself in." While another called it: 'Funny, fast-paced and surprisingly tender.' ‌ Audience reviews followed suit, with some left impressed, while others didn't care for Ryan Reynolds' offering. A viewer placed The Adam Project bang in the middle of the line and wrote: "It's basically what you'd expect from a time travel movie. Really enjoy sci-fi stuff, and this was another solid addition. Nothing crazy, but nothing really against it. Thought it was a really good cast as well. Ryan Reynolds continues to shine in whatever role he is in. Had a good amount of laughs. Also thought it was visually well done. Overall, not bad!" While another said: 'The type of movie that you'll forget 5min after you watch it. Full of clichés and the "science" part is beyond laughable.' One viewer said of the film: 'One of my favourite movies. Literally anything you will want from a movie, it's funny, it's exciting, it's emotional, it's interesting, it has great character and actors, just absolutely amazing, if you like action, fantasy, sci-fi, time travel - YOU WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE!!'

New era for Scotland's screen sector
New era for Scotland's screen sector

Scotsman

time2 hours ago

  • Scotsman

New era for Scotland's screen sector

Matthew Goode and Jamie Sives in the Calders area of Wester Hailes, for the dramatic opening scene of Department Q on Netflix Edinburgh has long served as a cinematic favourite - Trainspotting, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Chariots of Fire, Filth, Shallow Grave. Our streets and skylines have lent themselves to some of the most memorable scenes in film. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But the success of Department Q represents a significant shift: large-scale international production filmed and built right here in Scotland's capital. The nine-part Netflix series, now number one in the UK and number two globally, follows detective Carl Morck as he leads a new cold case unit investigating unsolved crimes in modern-day Edinburgh. Based on Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling Danish novels and adapted by Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank, the series was filmed over six months in and around the city. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around half of Department Q was shot at FirstStage Studios, located in a converted wave energy warehouse at Leith Docks. The remaining scenes were filmed at locations including the City Chambers, Mortonhall Crematorium, Greyfriars Bobby's Bar, the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho, and the CodeBase building on Castle Terrace, which serves as the police headquarters exterior. FirstStage, co-founded by Bob Last and Jason Connery, has become a cornerstone of Scotland's screen infrastructure, attracting major productions from Netflix, Amazon and Sony. Its creation was made possible with Scottish Government support and years of advocacy from the screen sector, allowing the city to meet growing demand for streaming content with in-house facilities and Scottish talent. The success of Department Q demonstrates how coordinated investment, local expertise and industry ambition are fuelling a new era for Scotland's screen sector.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store