‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our Past’

As I delve deeper into the intriguing tale of the Menendez brothers, I can’t help but feel a profound empathy for their plight. Their story, riddled with trauma and tragedy, has been subjected to public ridicule and media sensationalism that would break even the strongest of souls. Yet, they stand tall, resilient, finding solace in the support of those who truly understand their pain.

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “The Menendez Brothers,” now streaming on Netflix.

Following the sensational premiere of the Netflix series “Monsters: The Tale of Lyle and Erik Menendez,” the streaming platform has unveiled a fresh, extended documentary delving into the brothers’ crimes and trial that left the globe stunned.

The movie titled ‘The Menendez Brothers,’ helmed by Alejandro Hartmann, delves into the 1989 killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez, focusing on their sons, Lyle and Erik, who were convicted for the crime. The filmmakers had interviews with the brothers while they were incarcerated, and many other family members involved in the trial, as well as witnesses, contributed to the documentary.

The biggest moments and revelations from the documentary are detailed below.

*Listening to the authentic 911 recording — The original evidence used in the investigation and trial, such as the first 911 call, crime scene photographs, interrogation tapes, videos, and courtroom footage, is crucial for those deeply engrossed in the case. It also highlights the extensive research conducted for “Monsters.

*Directly from them — The acting in “Monsters” is compelling, but it’s even more captivating to listen to Lyle and Erik discuss the murders in their own tones. Hartmann has a wealth of recordings featuring both brothers separately, sharing their perspectives on the crime and its aftermath.

*The Beverly Hills Police Department’s Initial Approach in Handling the 911 Call — It’s intriguing to ponder over the initial bias displayed by the Beverly Hills police department when they responded to the 911 call. Pamela Bozanich, the prosecutor from the first trial, stated, “Upon finding the two brothers outside the house, they were distraught and overreacting. However, the police were courteous towards them. Initially, they were not treated as suspects by the investigating officers.” She further explained, “The Beverly Hills Police Department operates differently. They offer superior service to their citizens.” In conclusion, despite the police’s initial doubts about the brothers’ involvement in the murders due to the affluent neighborhood, Bozanich emphasized, “Statistically, if a domestic homicide occurs, it would be foolish for a police officer not to consider other family members as potential suspects.

*Erik concurred, saying, “A police response should have been initiated. We would have been apprehended. We didn’t have an alibi. Our hands were covered in gunpowder residue. Ordinarily, they conduct a gunpowder residue test, and we would have been arrested on the spot.”

I engaged in a shopping spree, but let me clarify that it wasn’t about enjoyment or indulgence. Rather, it was an attempt to mask the unbearable agony I felt, the desire to end my life.

*Kathy Griffin’s questionable humor in a news segment – During the media storm surrounding the brothers’ arrest, one awkward moment stood out: comedian Kathy Griffin making a comment on a show. She said, “Aren’t they cute? They are too innocent to be in prison! Cheers! I know their case isn’t watertight, but you know what? Sometimes you just need to indulge yourself.” Despite Lyle’s spending spree after the murders, he got a couple of Rolexes and a $70,000 Porsche, she joked.

*It’s possible that the jury had been informed excessively before the trial started – Betty Oldfield, a juror from the initial trial, stated, “I was already quite knowledgeable about the details, having read everything in newspapers and magazines, despite their preference for us not to.

*In media portrayals about defense attorney Leslie Abramson, I felt a strong sense of sexism was present.* The way she was depicted in news segments shown in the documentary struck me as unfairly biased. She was often referred to as a “tiny, brash, brainy woman with an in-your-face style” and a “4’11” Little Orphan Annie look-alike who is 104 pounds of pure dynamite.” These descriptions seemed to emphasize her size and appearance over her professional abilities and achievements.

*O. J. Simpson connections — At one point, Lyle mentions that Jose was the head of Hertz rental cars and hired Simpson as a spokesperson in their commercials. Later, Lyle reconnected with Simpson at the county jail after the latter’s arrest for murder, and some consider Simpson’s acquittal to start the cultural firestorm that caused the brothers to lose their second trial.

– This haunting statement made by Lyle during his court case about his childhood abuse: “It is far more painful for me to face a possible conviction in this murder trial than it is to reveal the details of my past and what transpired.

*Jose’s Extended Family Was Aware of His Abusive Behavior: In my opinion, it wasn’t just the private moments that were marred by Jose’s violent actions. Diane Vander Molen, Lyle and Erik’s cousin, shared an incident where Jose, in a chilling display of abuse, placed Lyle on a kitchen counter and encouraged him to jump off. As Lyle complied, Jose stepped back, allowing the boy to fall to the ground, emphasizing that trust is something you can never fully rely upon.

*Before Jose Menendez even arrived, people spoke poorly of him*” or more colloquially, “*People were talking negatively about Jose Menendez before he even showed up.*” Bozanich stated that “nobody had anything good to say about Jose Menendez except for his secretary,” and everyone else shared “terrible stories” about him and how he was a monster. In the speaker’s opinion, the death of Jose Menendez was a positive outcome for humanity.

In a deeply emotional part of the documentary, Dr. Ann Burgess presents sketches that Erik made as a means of coping with his father’s abuse and the subsequent murders. “Most of my time was spent interviewing Erik,” she explained. “He loved his parents. He said, ‘In just ten seconds, I regretted what we did.’ One technique I use with children, as well as those who have committed a crime, is to ask them to draw the events. It’s a subtle way of gathering information without leading them. With Erik, I asked him to start from that week before. He produced around 12 or 14 sketches. It was like a mini-Rorschach test for him to depict it, and I believe it helped him to put his feelings on paper because he hadn’t really discussed this before.” The drawings displayed contain phrases such as “Come back here you scoundrel” and “I won’t let you harm my little brother again.

*Cruel treatment in the media trial — The documentary presents a series of talk show clips and late-night segments ridiculing the brothers, with Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” often joining in. The Menendez family was troubled by these segments, as Kitty’s sister Joan Vander Molen stated, “I once called Jay Leno’s show to protest their mockery of them. All they did was make fun of them. I was informed that we were now public figures, and they could do whatever they wished.

*The initial trial became a heated debate between genders — Juror Hazel Thornton recalled feeling apprehensive about reaching a decision early on, stating, “My greatest concern was realized when we made the error of asking for a show of hands. All the men signaled approval for first-degree murder, while none of the women did. This told me we were in for a tough fight, a battle between the sexes.” She continued, “I believe the men found it difficult to accept that a young man could be subjected to abuse by his father, while the women showed more understanding and empathy regarding issues of abuse.

*Listening to stories from fellow survivors of childhood sexual abuse — Lyle has spent a significant portion of his time incarcerated receiving letters from other individuals who had experienced similar traumas. “I started getting numerous letters from victims, and I found myself relating to their stories as they mirrored my own. There were many people, including professionals such as police officers, citizens, educated individuals, and even international figures. They were simply offering me encouragement by expressing that they had never spoken about it before, never had a platform to share their experiences, always feeling shame and secrecy. The inmates approached me with their own tales because they saw me as a safe space where they could unload their pain. In a way, I became like a confidant, and it’s somewhat ironic that I would be the one who would dedicate my life in prison to advocating for sexual abuse survivors. I never could have foreseen any of this.

*The youthful fans on TikTok who back their tale are greatly valued by the brothers… – Lyle expressed, “Young people show a remarkable sense of optimism.” He continued, “They’ve spent time deciphering our story, and they grasp it in ways that older folks might not. I find myself feeling more hopeful when society appears to be becoming increasingly aware and sympathetic towards cases of sexual abuse.

However, not everyone is enamored with this documentary. Towards the end of it, Bozanich doesn’t sugarcoat his thoughts, stating this critical commentary: “The sole reason we’re making this special is due to the TikTok movement advocating for Menendi’s freedom. If that’s our approach for resolving cases now, then why don’t we just conduct a public vote on TikTok instead? You present the evidence, everyone gets to cast their vote, and then we decide who gets released. Your opinions are not facts; they’re merely opinions. And by the way, all you TikTok users, I’m armed. We have guns everywhere in our house. So, be warned.

Watch the trailer for “The Menendez Brothers” documentary below.

2024-10-08 01:20

‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our Past’

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