Netflix’s latest true-crime series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has captivated audiences with its gripping portrayal of one of the most infamous crimes in American history. Directed by Ryan Murphy, this new installment is part of the Monsters anthology, which previously explored the chilling case of Jeffrey Dahmer. Now, the spotlight is on the Menendez brothers, whose 1989 murder of their wealthy parents shocked the nation. Here’s everything you need to know about the highly anticipated series.
What is Monsters on Netflix about in 2024?
The 2024 Monsters series dives into the tragic and controversial story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who brutally murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. On the surface, it appeared to be a case of cold-blooded parricide, with the brothers 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 at the hands of their father, José Menendez, a wealthy Cuban-American entertainment executive.
Ryan Murphy’s series promises to explore not only the gruesome details of the crime but also the complex psychological and emotional dynamics within the Menendez family. Viewers will witness the public spectacle of the Menendez brothers’ trials, which were among the first to be televised, and delve into the growing public debate about whether the brothers were victims of severe abuse or opportunistic killers.
What did Lyle and Erik Menendez do?
On the night of August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez entered the family’s Beverly Hills home and shot their parents to death with shotguns. José and Kitty Menendez were sitting on the couch watching TV when they were ambushed by their sons, who fired multiple rounds at close range. José Menendez died instantly from a gunshot wound to the head, while Kitty was shot several times as she tried to flee.
After the murders, Lyle and Erik called 911, pretending to have just discovered the crime scene. In the days following the murders, they behaved erratically, spending lavishly on expensive cars, watches, and clothing, which eventually led authorities to suspect them. The brothers were arrested in March 1990 after confessing to their therapist, who recorded their conversations, ultimately leading to their conviction.
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How many episodes does Monsters have?
Nine episodes. Each episode will cover different aspects of the Menendez case, from the brothers’ privileged upbringing to the night of the murders, the media frenzy surrounding their trials, and the shocking revelations of abuse that surfaced during their defense.
The series will likely examine the broader cultural impact of the case, as it was one of the first high-profile trials to be broadcast on television, setting the stage for the true-crime obsession that dominates media today.
How much money did the Menendez brothers inherit?
At the time of their parents’ deaths, Lyle and Erik Menendez stood to inherit a fortune valued at approximately $14 million. Their father, José, was a prominent executive in the entertainment industry, and the family lived in one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in Beverly Hills. The brothers immediately began spending their parents’ money, purchasing luxury items such as Rolex watches, sports cars, and even investing in a restaurant business.
However, the inheritance soon became a point of contention during the trial, with the prosecution arguing that the brothers killed their parents solely to gain control of the family’s wealth.
What happened to the Menendez brothers’ fortune?
Although Lyle and Erik initially gained access to their parents’ estate, the money was quickly depleted by legal fees, settlements, and the extensive costs of their defense. Additionally, under California law, convicted murderers are not allowed to profit from their crimes, meaning the brothers were unable to fully inherit their parents’ estate.
The majority of the Menendez fortune was either used up in legal proceedings or liquidated to cover debts and lawsuits filed against the estate. Today, the brothers live without any significant financial resources, their once vast inheritance long gone.
Where are the Menendez brothers now?
As of 2024, Lyle and Erik Menendez are both serving life sentences without the possibility of parole at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. For more than 20 years, the brothers were incarcerated in separate prisons, but they were reunited in 2018 after years of good behavior.
Despite the notoriety of their crime, the brothers have become model prisoners, participating in various rehabilitation programs. Both men have also married while incarcerated, with Lyle wedding twice, and Erik marrying in 1999. The brothers are occasionally visited by their wives and maintain a connection with their remaining family members.
What is parricide?
Parricide refers to the act of killing one’s own parents, and it is considered one of the most disturbing and rare forms of murder. In the case of the Menendez brothers, their parricide shocked the nation due to the brutality of the crime and the wealth and status of the family involved. While the brothers initially claimed they killed out of fear and self-defense after years of abuse, the prosecution argued that the crime was committed out of greed, seeking control of the family fortune.
Cast
- Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez (9 episodes, 2024)
- Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez (8 episodes, 2024)
- Chloë 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 Cano (6 episodes, 2024)
- Blanca Araceli as Grandma Maria (6 episodes, 2024)
- Michael Learned as Catherine Dahmer (5 episodes, 2022)
