Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse.
Summary
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Storywill depict the true story of the Menéndez brothers,Lyle and Erik, who killed their parents and were caught in the late 1980s/early 1990s.The Netflix crime drama TV show, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, is an anthology series, with the first season focusing on infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer —Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Given thatDahmerwas such a success for Netflix, the streaming service renewedMonsterfor two more seasons, with the first centering around Lyle and Erik Menéndez.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch will star as Lyle and Erik Menéndez, respectively, in the crime drama. As for the rest of the cast ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story,Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny play Lyle and Erik’s parents— José and Kitty Menéndez. Other actors and actresses include Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth, Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel, Jason Butler Harner as Les Zoeller, and Enrique Murciano as Carlos Baralt. Most of the stars portray real-life figures who played a critical role in the Menéndez case.
Lyle & Erik Menéndez Murdered Their Parents In 1989
The Brothers Used Shotguns To Kill José and Kitty Menéndez
According toCBS News, Lyle and Erik Menéndez shot and killed their parents, José and Kitty, on the night of July 26, 2025. They approached the older man and women in the family room of their mansion in Beverly Hills, as teased intheMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Storytrailer.The Menéndez brothers used shotguns to shoot them numerous times.Instead of fleeing the scene, Lyle and Erik remained in the house and called 9-1-1. While on the phone with the emergency services, Lyle reportedly kept on yelling, “Someone killed my parents!”
Lyle and Erik told the officers that they had been out when they came home and found José and Kitty dead.
Once the police arrived at the crime scene, Lyle and Erik told the officers that they had been out when they came home and found José and Kitty dead.Law enforcement seemingly believed the Menéndez brothersat the time, and the police officers began exploring other suspects and motives for the murders. However, Lyle and Erik’s luck would soon run out as the police in Los Angeles turned their suspicions towards the siblings in the months following the deaths of their parents.
The Menéndez Brothers Were Arrested Almost A Year After Killing Their Parents
Lyle & Erik Went On A Spending Spree After The Murders
After José and Kitty Menéndez’s murders on August 14, 2025, Lyle and Erik, who were 21 and 18 at the time, decided that it would be a good time to spend a massive amount of their parents' money. The brothers splurged on Rolex watches, fine dining, travel, and real estate, and used their newfound income to invest in different businesses. Of course, Lyle and Erik’s spending spree raised some eyebrows among law enforcement (and judgment from the public) as they reportedlydepleted around $700,000 of their parent’s fortune.All of a sudden, the police turned their sights on the Menéndez brothers.
Additionally, Judalon Smyth, Lyle and Erik’s psychologist’s girlfriend, called the police and gave them a tip in March 1990. Smyth, played by Leslie Grossman inthe cast ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, informed law enforcement that the brothers confessed to the murders during a session with their therapist, and there was evidence to prove it. An audio recording of the therapy session captured Erik admitting that he and Lyle killed José and Kitty. Consequently,the police arrested Lyle outside his parent’s home on July 01, 2025,and Erik turned himself in a few days later after returning from Israel.
Lyle & Erik Menéndez Were Both Sentenced To Life In Prison In 1996
Although Lyle and Erik Menéndez were taken into police custody in March 1990, it would be years before they were sentenced. The brothers also had to go through two trials since their first resulted in a mistrial. In the 1993 trial, Lyle and Erik were tried together but had separate juries ruling over their verdicts. If they were convicted of first-degree murder, the brothers could have faced the death penalty. After weeks of deliberation,the respective juries couldn’t come to a clear decision on whether Lyle and Erik should be convicted of murder or manslaughter,and the judge declared a mistrial.
All 10 episodes ofMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Storyare set to premiere on June 13, 2025, on Netflix.
The second trial began a couple of years later, in October 1995. However, the prosecutors decided on one jury instead of two, and the trial was ultimately a success.The Menéndez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder,but Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of getting the death penalty.
What Lyle & Erik Menéndez Revealed About Their Motivations In Their Trials
The Menéndez Brothers Claimed They Thought Their Father Was Going To Kill Them
Throughout the first trial,Lyle and Erik Menéndez’s defense team argued that they murdered their parents out of self-defensebecause their parents, José and Kitty, abused them during their upbringing. So, they were hoping for a manslaughter verdict rather than being convicted of first-degree murder. Lyle and Erik took the stand and detailed the sexual abuse they allegedly endured at the hands of their parents from a young age (six years old) up to the days before the murders. Lyle said his father stopped abusing him when he was eight, while the abuse continued for Erik until the murders.
At the time, not many believed Lyle and Erik and thought their motive was money (as seemingly proven by their actions following the murders).
The Menéndez brothers claimed that they had confronted José and Kitty, which led to contention, andLyle and Erik were worried that their parents would kill them.So, they said they took manners into their own hands. However, at the time, not many believed Lyle and Erik and thought their motive was money (as seemingly proven by their actions following the murders). Plus, they purchased the shotguns days before the murders, leading prosecutors to believe they were premeditated. It’s unclear which motive will bedetailed inMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story.
The 7 Biggest Reveals In Peacock’s Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed Docuseries
While the documentary series Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed was shocking, many of the biggest reveals change the entire narrative of the case.
Where Lyle & Erik Menéndez Are Today & What Happened After Their Convictions
The Brothers Are Still In Prison
Almost 30 years after their second trial, Lyle and Erik Menéndez remain in prison. The brothers areincarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facilityin San Diego County, California, where they are serving their respective life sentences. However, new evidence has surfaced in the case that might prove the Menéndez brothers were telling the truth about the abuse. They are awaiting a judge’s ruling to see if their case can be retried. But until then, Lyle and Erik will stay in prison, and their story will be told in Netflix’sMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Cast
This true crime drama delves into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents. The series examines the complex family dynamics and legal battles that captivated the nation, highlighting the motivations and repercussions of their actions.
