Last year, the real life story of Lyle and Erik Menendez was the focus of Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which told a dramatised version of the story of the two brothers who killed their parents on the 20th August, 1989. Over 30 years ago the two brothers fatally shoot their parents in their Beverly Hills home, later citing abuse as their motive. But where are the real Lyle and Erik Menendez now?
How old were Lyle and Erik Menendez on the night of the murders?
Lyle, who was 21 at the time of the murders, and his 18-year-old brother Erik, walked into their parents home on the evening of 20th August 1989, carrying shotguns.
What happened on the night of the Menendez murders?
Their mother Kitty was shot 10 times, while their father José was shot six times, with a fatal shot to the back of his head. The brothers said they had been out to see a movie, Batman, getting rid of the guns and changing out of their clothes. When they came back and 'discovered' their parents' bodies, Erik dialled 911, and sobbed on the lawn in front of their house while telling them "Someone killed our parents."
Police believed their version of events, and did not initially suspect the brothers - failing to test them for gunshot residue or questioning their alibis. Instead, police began their investigation into what could have happened to the couple, looking into mob ties and potential suspects.
It was only when the Menendez brothers started spending their inheritance - blowing a reported $700,000 in six months on Rolex watches and cars - that they were eventually arrested, when police alleged that money was their motive.
What happened during Erik and Lyle Menendez's trial?
While Erik and Lyle initially denied any involvement in the murders, Erik did eventually confess to what had happened to Jerome Oziel, his psychologist, who then told his mistress Judalon Smyth about what he'd been told.
When Oziel broke off their affair, Judalon told the police about what Erik had said, and the brothers were arrested - Lyle first in March 1990, before Erik handed himself in three days later, six months after the murders.
The court case took place from 1993 to 1996, and was highly publicised, involving two juries, two trials and a mistrial. During the court case, the prosecution argued that the siblings killed their parents in an attempt to inherit their family fortune.
The brothers have always remained adamant that they suffered years of abuse at the hands of their parents, José and Kitty, saying they killed them out of self defence after their parents inflicted physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Eventually, in March 1996, Lyle and Erik were found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder, both receiving consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.
Where are Lyle and Erik Menendez now?
After receiving their life sentences, Lyle and Erik were sent to two different prisons. In 2018, they were moved to the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and allowed to serve the rest of their sentences from the same prison. It was the first time the brothers had seen each other for almost 22 years, being allowed to move into the same housing unit.
In 2023, the brothers filed an appeal for a new hearing, based on new evidence which they say included testimony from a boyband member Roy Rosselló, who claimed to have also been raped by José Menendez at the age of 14. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed the report to CNN in May 2023, commenting "We have received the habeas petition in the Menendez matter and it’s currently under review."
At the end of the Netflix crime drama, a text screen appears which states: "Lyle and Erik Menéndez maintain their allegation of sexual abuse at the hands of their mother and father. They continue to serve life sentences without possibility of parole."
However, since the Netflix series aired in 2024, there's been a big change in the brothers' lives.
In May 2025, a Los Angeles judge reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole, to 50 years to life.
Now, on 21st August 2025 the brothers will begin their parole hearings. Each brother is expected to be evaluated individually by two or three parole officers. Erik's evaluation is expected to take place in California on the morning of 21st August and Lyle's will take place on Friday 22nd August.
If they are granted parole a review period of 120 days will begin, and then Gavin Newsom, the governor of California will have 30 days to approve or deny the parole.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is now streaming on Netflix
