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