The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, have been incarcerated since 1996 for the tragic murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. Their compelling saga has recently gained renewed attention with the release of Ryan Murphy’s production, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Following their conviction, the brothers were separated and transported to different prison facilities. So what’s the current status of the Menendez brothers?
Lyle and Erik are both serving their sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility located in San Diego, California. Initially, after their conviction in 1996, Lyle was held at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, while Erik was transferred between Folsom State Prison and Pleasant Valley Prison. In 2018, both brothers were moved to RJD but were housed in separate units. Later that same year, Lyle was moved to Erik’s unit, reuniting the siblings for the first time in over two decades. They have since been together in prison.
During their time apart, both brothers entered into marriage. Lyle tied the knot with Anna Eriksson shortly before being sentenced in 1996, but they later divorced. He remarried Rebecca Sneed in 2003. Erik, on the other hand, married Tammi Saccoman in 1999.
As for their fate, both brothers received life sentences without the possibility of parole, meaning they are expected to remain imprisoned indefinitely. However, their defense attorney, Cliff Gardner, is actively seeking avenues for their release. A letter that surfaced recently may bolster their argument that they acted in self-defense when they killed their parents. Additionally, musician Roy Rosselló has alleged that José abused him during his teenage years, leading Cliff to use this letter and Roy’s affidavit as new evidence to challenge the convictions of Lyle and Erik.
In a notable development, just after “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” debuted on Netflix, the brothers appeared in a teaser for their own upcoming documentary. This new documentary is slated for release on October 7, 2024.