Netflix’s newest true crime docuseries, Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story, has captivated audiences with its gripping portrayal of one of the most notorious crimes in American history. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the new film is part of the Monsters anthology, which explores the horrific case of Jeffrey Dahmer. Now, the spotlight is on the Menendez brothers, who shocked the nation by murdering their wealthy parents in 1989. Here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipated series.
What is “Monsters” coming to Netflix in 2024?
The 2024 monster series dives deep into the tragic and controversial story of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who brutally murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills mansion. On the surface, it appeared to be a case of cold-blooded parricide motivated by greed and a desire to inherit their parents’ vast fortune. However, the case took a dramatic turn when the brothers revealed that they had suffered years of abuse from their father, Jose Menendez, a wealthy Cuban-American entertainment executive.
Ryan Murphy’s series promises to explore not only the gory details of the crime but also the complex psychological and emotional dynamics of the Menendez family. Viewers will witness the public spectacle of the Menendez brothers’ trial, one of the first to be televised, and delve into the growing public debate about whether the brothers were victims of terrible abuse or opportunistic killers.
What did Lyle and Erik Menendez do?
On the night of August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez broke into their Beverly Hills home and shot and killed their parents with a shotgun. Jose and Kitty Menendez were sitting on the couch watching television when their sons ambushed them and fired multiple shots at close range. Jose Menendez died instantly from a gunshot wound to the head, and Kitty was shot several times as she tried to escape.
After the murders, Lyle and Eric called 911, pretending to have discovered the crime scene. In the days following the murders, they began to behave erratically and lavishly on luxury cars, watches, and clothing, which eventually aroused suspicion from authorities. The brothers were arrested in March 1990 after confessing to their therapist, who recorded their conversations, which ultimately led to their convictions.
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How many episodes are there in Monsters?
There are nine episodes in total, with each episode covering a different aspect of the Menendez case, from the brothers’ privileged upbringing to the night of the murders, the media frenzy surrounding the trial, and the shocking revelations of abuse that came to light during the defense.
The series will explore the wider cultural impact of the case, as it was one of the first high-profile trials broadcast on television and laid the foundation for the obsession with true-crime documentaries that dominates the media today.
How much money did the Menendez brothers inherit?
When their parents died, Lyle and Erik Menendez inherited a fortune worth approximately $14 million. Their father, Jose, was a prominent entertainment executive, and the family lived in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. The brothers quickly began spending their parents’ money, buying luxury items such as Rolex watches and sports cars, and even investing in a restaurant business.
However, inheritance quickly became an issue at trial, with prosecutors arguing that the brothers had murdered their parents simply to seize control of the family fortune.
What happened to the Menendez brothers’ fortune?
While Lyle and Eric were initially able to inherit their parents’ fortune, legal fees, settlements, and huge legal costs quickly drained their money. Additionally, California law doesn’t allow convicted murderers to profit from their crimes, so the brothers were unable to inherit their parents’ entire estate.
Much of the Menendez family fortune has been consumed in legal proceedings or used to pay off debts and lawsuits against heirs. Today, the brothers live without much money, and their once-great fortunes are long gone.
Where are the Menendez brothers now?
As of 2024, Lyle and Erik Menendez are serving life sentences without parole at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. For over 20 years, the brothers were incarcerated in separate prisons, but were reunited in 2018 due to years of good behavior.
Despite the high profile of their crimes, the brothers have been good prisoners, participated in various rehabilitation programs, and both have been married while in prison — Lyle twice, and Eric in 1999 — and the brothers visit their wives occasionally and stay connected to the families they leave behind.
What is parricide?
Parricide, the act of killing one’s own parent, is considered one of the most brutal and rare forms of murder. In the Menendez brothers’ case, their parricide shocked the nation due to its brutality and the wealth and status of the family involved. The brothers initially claimed they killed out of fear for years of abuse and in self-defense, but prosecutors argued the crime was committed out of greed to gain control of the family fortune.
cast
Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez (9 episodes, 2024) Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez (8 episodes, 2024) Chloe Sevigny as Kitty Menendez (8 episodes, 2024) Molly Ringwald as Shari Dahmer (8 episodes, 2022) Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez (8 episodes, 2024) Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland (7 episodes, 2022) Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson (6 episodes, 2024) Michael Beach as Detective Murphy (6 episodes, 2022) Colby French as Patrick Kennedy (6 episodes, 2024) Marlene Forte as Marta Kano (6 episodes, 2024) Blanca Araceli as Grandma Maria (6 episodes, 2024) Michael Learned as Katherine Dahmer (5 episodes, 2022)
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