The Menendez brothers may be resentenced if former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón‘s recommendation is approved by a judge.
Lyle and Erik Menendez gained infamy after murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989. They have spent over three decades in prison and are currently incarcerated at California’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. Though their family was known for their wealth, a central question during the 1990s trial was why they committed the crime.
To learn more about the reasons behind the brothers’ actions, read below.
The Menendez brothers fatally shot their parents in their Beverly Hills home with shotguns. Although they were not initially arrested, they went on to spend some of their inheritance before being taken into custody.
During the trials in 1993 and 1996, many believed that the brothers committed the murders to secure their inheritance. However, they claimed during the trial that they had suffered abuse throughout their childhood. Allegations included that their mother was dependent on alcohol and drugs and that their father had sexually abused them. Recently, Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, also accused Jose Menendez of sexually molesting him when he was younger.
These allegations became central in the first trial, leading to a mistrial. Ultimately, the brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996.
