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The Menendez brothers’ case, where Joseph “Lyle” Menendez and “Erik” Galen Menendez were convicted of killing their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, may have started back in 1989, but exclusive live-action documentaries and series based on those incidents are bringing all those heinous crimes committed back then into the limelight once again.
In the early 1990s, less than half a year after the Menendez parents were savagely murdered by shotguns purchased by the brothers, both Erik and Lyle were arrested. Their second trial in 1995 had them eventually convicted on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for lying in wait, as well as conspiracy to murder.
Additionally, the penalty phase of the trial had them sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, to be served as consecutive sentences for the killings and the charges of conspiracy to commit murder in July 1996. Since then till now, the brothers currently continue to serve their life sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.
However, recently, this case found a new light as Los Angeles district attorney George Gascón recommended a resentencing after reviewing a habeas corpus petition. And. as he did so,Monsterscast member Ari Graynor, who plays the real-life attorney of the brothers in the series based on this very grueling case, extended her support for the retrial of the brothers.
MonstersCast Member Ari Graynor Supports the Menendez Brothers’ Retrial
Netflix’sMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storymay have been yet another documentary-style series covering the Menendez brothers’ story, but it feels like some of the cast really took the story to heart. Ari Graynor, for one, who played the real-life attorney of the brothers for the screens, seems to be particularly involved in the real-time advancements in this case.
According to what she shared withVariety, Graynor is on Erik and Lyle’s side when the question of a retrial pops up, with the ultimate goal of this retrial being to see them released from prison after all the years they have spent behind bars.
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Additionally, as it turns out, Graynor“feel[s] very close to them in this bizarre other reality,”as she continued to say:
I hear they’re extraordinary people who, as Leslie said at the end of the show … will make their lives meaningful and contribute beautifully to society. It sounds like from everything I’ve heard is that they are amazing. Erik is teaching meditation, they’re working on the [prison reform initiative] Green Space project. I would love to get to hug them one day.
But this tenderness that Ari Graynor feels toward Erik andLyle Menendezisn’t something that developed overnight but is rather a feeling she acquired after channeling Leslie Abramson for the screens — the actual attorney who had to go through it all while defending the Menendez brothers during their real trials.
Ari Graynor Played the Real-Life Attorney Leslie Abramson in the Netflix Series
Erik and Lyle’s case of murdering their parents and serving life sentences as a consequence was unarguably one of the most publicized and famous cases of all time, with its highly broadcasted trials receiving international media attention and inspiring numerous documentaries, dramatizations, books, and parodies. Like Netflix’sMonsters.
In season 2 of the crime drama anthology TV series byRyan Murphyand Ian Brennan,Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the decades-long controversy of the Menendez brothers was tackled. In this,Cooper Kochembodied Erik whileNicholas Alexander Chavezplayed Lyle. Ari Graynor, in the meanwhile, played Leslie Abramson, the brothers’ real-life attorney.
What Happened to the Menendez Brothers- Will Lyle and Erik be Released From Prison After 30 Years?
While Abramson defended Erik back then, she is also reported to have told defense witness William Vicary to edit his notes of his meetings with Erik to remove information that could prove to be potentially damning for them (see theNew York Times). This had the brothers filing motions for a mistrial as well in the wake of them suffering irreversible damage in the penalty phase due to possible misconduct and ineffective representation by Abramson.
Meanwhile, Abramson also never really gave any interviews for any of the documentaries or programs that have been made on the Menendez brothers’ story, as Graynor pointed out to Variety. This was also why she never contacted the now-retired attorney while preparing for her role.
Mentioning howdeeply connectedshe felt to Abramson and that she spent much of this journey playing her as“wanting to do her justice,”Graynor said:“I knew that she had made it pretty clear that she never wanted to speak about any of her cases… She really took a step back, I think, not only because this case in particular was so painful for her, but she also did not mince words about the media and its effects on things.”
Are the Menendez Brothers Finally Getting Out of Prison? All You Need to Know About the Press Conference and Resentencing Orders
Besides her, the recently ended season 2 of the Netflix series also sawJavier Bardemas José Menendez, the deceased Menendez father; Chloë Sevigny as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, the deceased Menendez mother; andNathan Laneas Dominick Dunne, the journalist who became a key voice in shaping public perception of the brothers’ story through his articles.
Since the time she defended the brothers, the now-80-year-old Leslie Abramson has gone on to publish her memoirThe Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Lawin 1997, and is currently retired, making public appearances once in a blue moon. But the Menendez brothers, for one, seem to be close to getting a second chance at life once again.
Charges Against Lyle and Erik: Why Did the Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents?
Over the years, there have been two major reasons behind this question. According to the story that the brothers stuck to throughout their trial, their father José Menendez allegedly s-xually abused both Lyle andErik Menendez, with the former experiencing it up until adulthood and shortly prior to the murders while José seemingly stopped abusing the latter at 8 (perBad Blood: The Shocking True Story Behind the Menendez Killings).
Additionally, both brothers are also reported to have testified that José had threatened to kill them if they spilled news about the abuse to anyone. This led to the Menendez brothers eventually purchasing shotguns for“protection and self-defense”– the same one they used to shoot their parents. Apparently, they were afraid of being killed by their parents, thus, the brothers decided to put an end to their parents first before they could get to them.
Are the Menendez Brothers Still in Jail?: How the Police Uncovered the Truth After Initially Viewing Erik and Lyle Menendez as Innocent
However, the initial court trials ended up proving otherwise. In the recorded tapes of the sessions that the brothers had with their psychologist, Jerome Oziel, all talks of the alleged s-xual abuse were absent. Additionally, the prosecution put up the point during the trial that, since the brothers had lied before about their initial reports of the cause of their parents’ death as well, they were well capable of lying about it once again to avoid death sentences.
Further evidence piled up against the brothers’, including Lyle reportedly trying to bribe his ex-girlfriend into falsely testifying about his father making s-xual advances towards her, among others. Plus, as per Oziel’s account (via theLA Times),“They didn’t kill their parents for money but rather out of hatred and out of a desire to be free from their father’s domination, messages of inadequacy, and impossible standards.”
All of this coupled with the fact that the brothers continued to ruthlessly spend their parents’ fortune after murdering them at 21 (Lyle) and 18 (Erik) had the prosecution proposing that the two youngsters could have done it after being motivated by hatred and a desire to receive their father’s multimillion-dollar estate after being disinherited from his will (per the account shared byCrime Library (TruTV)).
Eventually, as a result of their second trial, both Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for lying in wait. This was followed by a charge of conspiracy to murder as well. Additionally, the penalty phase of the trial had them sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, which they have been serving till now. But with George Gascón’s recent recommendation, things could change for them.
LA District Attorney Recommended Resentencing the Menendez Brothers at the Recent News Conference
Recently, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s widely publicized news conference was held where he was set to announce his decision of a review in Erik and Lyle’s case. During this, he announced a rather surprising decision: He wanted the Menendez brothers to be resentenced, which he came down to after a“very careful review.”
“Resentencing is appropriate,”Gascón said while adding that he would make that recommendation to a judge for the same (perBBC).“There is no excuse for murder. I do believe the brothers were subjected to a tremendous amount of dysfunction in their home and molestation. I believe they have paid their debt to society. [But] the final decision will be made by a judge.”
This comes amidst the fact that both Lyle and Erik have spent around 30 years behind bars as a consequence of brutally murdering their parents. But this decision wasn’t solo, and Gascón’s recommendation follows pressure from the Menendez brothers’ relatives (perABC), attorneys, and supporters in the public (which seem to have faced the recent inclusion of Ari Graynor as well).
What is the New Evidence in Favor of Lyle and Erik Menendez?
While reports of George Gascón’s recent recommendation for the Menendez brothers’ resentencing are out, it is worth noting that this has come in the wake of the new evidence being earthed regarding their case. According to this, there is a chance that Erik and Lyle were actually possibly molested as per their original claims, which could result in their sentences being re-evaluated.
At a news conference, Gascón commented on the same to reporters, saying (seeFox News),“None of this information has been confirmed… We’re not, at this point, ready to say that we either believe or do not believe that information. But we’re here to tell you that we have a moral and ethical obligation to review what is being presented to us and make a determination.”
5 Shocking Things We Learned About Erik and Lyle After Watching “The Menendez Brothers” Documentary On Netflix
With all of this being put out there, it’s inevitable that the Menendez Brothers’ case, which had America torn between the 1990s, has inevitably taken some serious twists and turns in due time. At the same time, George Gascón’s recommendation for their resentencing in the wake of new evidence being found sounds like a hopeful update for all those who feel that Lyle and Erik have served more than enough punishment for their past actions.
Now, the only thing that remains to be seen is whether this recommendation, which is noticeably backed up by large numbers from public interest, will actually be given enough attention, and whether it all finally results in the Menendez Brothers’ favor, releasing them of the guilt and sins that they have been imposed with for decades now.
Meanwhile, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story can currently be streamed on Netflix.
Mahin Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2478
Mahin Sultan is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, where she brings a fresh perspective to entertainment news. Having been in the field for over 3 years now, she has already written more than 2,000 articles across a variety of niches, from entertainment to health and fashion. This diverse experience has allowed her to quickly build a solid foundation and a deep understanding of the industry.
