This article discusses sexual abuse
Contains spoilers for Netflix’sMonstersseason 2.
Netflix’s new seriesMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyexplores all aspects of the brothers' case – including their prison sentences. Thetrue story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who pleaded guilty to murdering their parents in 1989, is recapped in ten episodes inMonstersseason 2, an anthology series by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The series reexamines the unsettling circumstances surrounding the murders of José and Kitty Menendez, who were accused of abusing Lyle and Erik throughout their childhoods.Monstersseason 2 has been in the Top 10 TV Shows on Netflix since it was released on August 01, 2025.
Monstersseason 2 stars Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavezas Erik and Lyle Menendez, respectfully. Erik and Lyle were each given life sentences for murdering their parents and have been incarcerated since December 1992. Both Menendez brothers claimed that their father, José, sexually abused them while their mother, Kitty, would violently abuse them when they were kids. Despite the popularity and success ofMonstersseason 2 on Netflix, theseries has garnered scrutiny for portraying a false incestuous relationshipbetween Erik and Lyle. The series has sparked new interest in thereal Menendez brothers as new evidenceof their sexual abuse is being reviewed.
Lyle & Erik Menendez Were Both Convicted On 2 Counts Of First-Degree Murder & Conspiracy To Commit Murder In 1996
They’ve Been In Federal Prison Ever Since
The Menendez brothers were found guilty on 2 counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in 1996 for the crimes they committed against their parents in 1996. According toNPR, “A jury convicted Lyle and Eric Menendez of first-degree murder today for the 1989 slayings of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion. The jury rejected the claim that the brothers killed their parents to end years of abuse.” The jurors ultimatelysentenced both of the brothers to life in prison without the possibility of parolebut rejected the implementation of the death penalty.
Monsters Interview: Javier Bardem & Chloë Sevigny On Blurring Villain Vs. Victim In The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story stars Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny discuss the challenges of playing José and Kitty onscreen.
PerCNN:
“Lyle, who was then 21, and Erik, then 18, admitted they fatally shot-gunned their entertainment executive father and their mother, but said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father’s long-term sexual molestation of Erik. Prosecutors contended there was no evidence of any molestation. They said the sons were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.”
As a result, bothKyle and Erik Menendez have been in federal prison for the greater part of three decades. All this information is conveyed inMonstersseason 2.
Lyle & Erik Menendez Were Both Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole
They Were Not Given The Opportunity To Be Tried For Manslaughter
Back in the mid-1990s, Lyle and Erik Menendez were given the standard treatment for guilty verdicts involving first-degree murder cases, which is typically life in prison. This is no different from theAaron Hernandez sentencing for his first-degree murderconviction of Odin Lloyd, which is dramatized in the FX seriesAmerican Sports Story(also produced by Ryan Murphy). The Menendez brothers, who are both now in their 50s, have spent the majority of their lives serving their life sentences.Monstersseason 2 sheds light on their personal lives and difficult circumstancesthat were mostly dismissed by jurors, which resulted in their life sentences.
7 Biggest Details Monsters: The Erik & Lyle Menendez Story Gets Wrong About The True Story
Although Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story stays true to many aspects of the true story, it seems to have some clear factual inconsistencies.
Afterthe first trial tried each brother individually and resulted in a mistrial, the second trial placed both of them together and became a national media sensation. According toTIME:
“The brothers’ attorneys said the family believed from the beginning they should have been charged with manslaughter rather than murder. Manslaughter was not an option for the jury during the second trial that ultimately led to the brothers’ murder conviction.”
Manslaughter charges would have given each brother a maximum sentence of 20 years, which meant that they would have been released from prison in 2016 if that option had been available at the time.
Will The Menendez Brothers Ever Get Another Retrial?
New Evidence Has Emerged In The Case
The Menendez brothers' case is being examined based on new evidence that pertains to their claims of being sexually abused and molested as children. The new evidence is a letter written by Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, in December 1988, roughly eight months before the double homicide. According toCBS News:
“The letter reads, in part, “I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening, Andy, but it’s worse for me now. … Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. … I’m afraid. … He’s crazy. He’s warned me a hundred times about telling anyone, especially Lyle.”
Kim Kardashian has also called for the release of the Menendez brothers, which could be featured in future episodes ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Cast
This true crime drama delves into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents. The series examines the complex family dynamics and legal battles that captivated the nation, highlighting the motivations and repercussions of their actions.
