At the age of 21 and 18, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. The evening of August 20th 1989, the two brothers stormed the house. They entered the family room, shotguns in hand and fired 16 shots, 10 to their mother and 6 to their father. They left the house, went to the local movie theater attempting to buy an alibi. They came home later that evening and faked a 911 call, pleading “Someone killed my parents,”.
The brothers were the last possible suspects when it first happened, it was only after they started to quickly spend their inheritance money that they were possible suspects. They weren’t taken on that seriously until Erik had gone to his therapist, Dr. Oziel confessed that his brother and he had killed their parents. Erik couldn’t handle the guilt. This was 6 months after the crime had happened. Dr. Oziel had taped the session, unethically, getting the confession on tape. Oziel told his mistress, Julalon Smyth, about the confession. This is a key detail as Julalon Smyth reported this to the police, which is what led to the brothers being arrested.
Why? Everybody who didn’t truly know this story would think that the boys killed their parents purely because they wanted their money, but it was much more concerning than that. Jose Menendez, the father of Lyle and Erik Menendez, abused his boys physically, sexually, and emotionally. He had sexually abused Lyle as a young boy, and then later did the same to Erik, up until he died. The whole time their mother knew what was happening and decided to stay silent. The boys killed their parents out of self defense, but still, they were both found guilty and charged to life in prison without chance of parole on July 2nd, 1996.
Personally, I can see both sides of this debate. I can see why some would say the boys should still be punished as they did still commit murder that was premeditated. On the other hand, I can see that they did this out of self defense, and they thought that they would have been killed by their parents if they had not acted first.
What do you think about this case?
Do you think the brothers should have a chance at parole?
Do you think that the Menendez brothers would have been killed by their parents if they hadn’t acted first?
Replies
Great, timely topic choice with the Netflix doc just dropping recently. Great job on your summary and replying!
I belive that this case was kinda wild and crazy because they were being abused and forced to survie while they were kids and helpe take care of eachother, and yeah i belive tha they should have chance of parole because what their parents did to them was wrong and they killed them because they werent safe and their parents would of killed them.
I think its crazy that they had to go through all that stuff being abused and forced to survive when they are so young. Yes, I think they should have a chance of parole because they only did it because of their parents. I do think they may have been killed by their parents if they didn't act first to the problem.
I agree with you. They were hardly even adults when they commited those murders, and the idea of charging them life with no parol is insane to me. Scientificaly, their brains weren't even fully developed yet. They even did it in self defence! That court ruling would absolutely start a ruckus if it happened in today's world and got enough publicity.
I think that this case is a little to far for what the brothers did. I don't think their parents would've killed them. So they should've turned them in.
I think it was unbeliveable what they've been through with there parents alagetly abusing them and forcing them to do things just to survie and live a good life. Yes I think they should have a chace at parole even though what they did was imaginable wrong and there could of been different was to resolve it i still think they should get a chance. I do belive that tif they didnt kill first the situation could of gotten worse.
Yes, I believe that they should have a chance at parole. What they went through was absolutely terrible and they were too young to understand it when it started, so it probably impacted the way they grew up and their thoughts a lot. I think that it’s unfair that the brothers might not ever see eachother again, when they were just trying to defend themselves and get away from the abuse.
What do you think about this case? i think that it was terriable what they had to do to survive. Do you think the brothers should have a chance at parole? I feel like i would need to reasearch more before i made a choice.Do you think that the Menendez brothers would have been killed by their parents if they hadn’t acted first? Yes
I think the case is a huge tragedy and should not have came down to murder. But i believe that the brothers did get abused constantly which led to the our rage of killing. I think the deserve a chance at parole and i believe that their parents would have done lot more harm if not stopped
I agree with you whwn you said "I think the case is a huge tragedy and should not have came down to murder" I also think that they shouldn't have had to go through all of the torcher that there dad made them go through. I also think that they shouldn't have got to killing there dad
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next