Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents 30 years ago today – but it didn’t have to be that way

Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents 30 years ago today – but it didn’t have to be that way

This is a tragedy that destroyed a family. All four of them had remarkable strengths as well as terrible weaknesses and it did not have to be. If at any time over the course of the lives of the four Menendez family members some effective person could have intervened, everyone would still be alive and well and healing. All four of them needed help. And there never was any help for this family.
— Defense Attorney Leslie Abramson, the day before sentencing

A day in the life of Lyle Menendez at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

A day in the life of Lyle Menendez at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

The 780 acres of California’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility are about a half hour east and slightly south of downtown San Diego.

The penitentiary tops a mesa near an industrial park, just over a mile from the Otay Mesa border crossing.

I always know when I’m close to the jail because my cell phone buzzes with a text message:

“Welcome to Mexico.”

Six Degrees of Incarceration: When Erik Menendez Met O.J. Simpson

Six Degrees of Incarceration: When Erik Menendez Met O.J. Simpson

Erik and Lyle Menendez were arrested in March 1990, seven months after they killed their parents.

By June of 1994, the Beverly Hills brothers had been in custody for over four years. During that time, they shared the slammer with many notorious prisoners, including their Brentwood neighbor Orenthal James Simpson, who was arrested 25 years ago today. 

Now that O.J. is back in the news — planning to “set the record straight” on Twitter — let’s take a look back to 1994, when Erik met O.J.

After two decades apart, Erik and Lyle Menendez were reunited one year ago today

After two decades apart, Erik and Lyle Menendez were reunited one year ago today

The Menendez brothers were reunited a year ago today, after not having seen each other for almost 22 years.

The brothers were reunited at the R. J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego.

The last time they’d been together was in 1996, two months after they were sentenced to life without parole following their first-degree murder conviction.

The day of the sentencing, the Beverly Hills Police filed a motion asked the judge to place the brothers in separate prisons because they had been co-conspirators in committing a crime.

The judge agreed.

Canadian reader Darknoir likes it, she really really likes it!

Canadian reader Darknoir likes it, she really really likes it!

I want to express my thanks to everybody who has taken the time to read or listen to my book, The Menendez Murders, since it was released last Fall.

I was recently contacted by a reader who posted a review on Amazon Canada that can’t be easily seen on Amazon U.S. or any of the other foreign Amazon sites.

Darknoir has written an insightful, concise overview of the Menendez Brothers story. I appreciate her kind words:

The Menendez Brothers make their first court appearance (video)

The Menendez Brothers make their first court appearance (video)

On Monday, March 12, 1990, Erik and Lyle Menendez – who were being held without bail – were arraigned at Beverly Hills Municipal Court.

The charges against the brothers were read to a packed courtroom that included many supportive family members.  

Erik Menendez looked exhausted because he hadn’t slept since his voluntary surrender and return from Israel a day before.

It was the beginning of the end the lives the boys once knew.