The Most Ruthless Family Betrayal In Los Angeles History _ The New Detectives

A $4 million Beverly Hills mansion. Two brothers who bought shotguns days before. Twelve blasts from twelve-gauge shotguns that shredded their parents while they watched television. And a story of sexual abuse that the jury in the second trial was never allowed to hear.On August 20, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez sat watching a movie when their sons Lyle, 21, and Erik, 18, walked into the den with shotguns [citation:2]. Jose was shot five times, including once in the head. Kitty was shot ten times, still crawling toward the door [citation:2]. The brothers fled to a movie theater, returned home, and Lyle called 911, screaming that someone had murdered his parents [citation:5].Prosecutors argued the motive was greed—the brothers spent $1 million in six months on Rolexes, a Porsche, and a restaurant [citation:5]. The defense argued Jose had sexually abused both boys for years, and Kitty knew but did nothing [citation:2]. The first trial ended in a hung jury. The second trial excluded most abuse evidence. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life without parole [citation:5]. In 2024, a letter from Erik to his cousin detailing the abuse and allegations from a former Menudo member who claimed Jose drugged and raped him prompted the district attorney to review the case for possible resentencing [citation:6].Turn down the lights, put on your headphones, and press play because the Menendez case asks the question Los Angeles still cannot answer: were they monsters or victims?