Netflix recently released the second part of a series titled “Monsters” that tells the story of the Menendez family murders. This season depicts brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez who shot and killed their parents in 1989, when they were 18 and 21 years old. They are both currently serving lifelong prison sentences, but recent publicity, largely a result of this series, has sparked rumors of a chance of a repeal or change to their sentencing.
The Menendez brothers maintain that they suffered extreme abuse from their parents, which is what led them to believe killing their parents was the only way out. According to Erik and Lyle, they were both sexually abused by their father with their mother’s knowledge from the age of six until the year of the murders.
The story is told in great detail with extreme romanticization. The story is told in a format that depicts what the brothers say happened and highlights some common theories about the case. Some believe that the show grossly sexualizes the brothers and their story, and others believe that the brothers deserve to be released after watching the case explained.
“The series tells such an intense and sad story where you cannot help but feel bad for the Menendez brothers,” said Chandler Chung, a senior nursing major. “I still think that the series wrongly portrayed some of the abuse but the brothers deserve to be released. The series definitely helped bring attention to the case, and hopefully, that will help get Erik and Lyle free.”
According to ABC News, the Menendez brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, seems to have high hopes about getting the brothers’ ruling overturned and reportedly expects to see them home by Thanksgiving. Family members of the brothers have been pushing for a resentencing for years.
“When I watched this show, it genuinely felt fake due to how insane and upsetting it was,” said Olivia Peters, a junior mass communication major. “My heart breaks knowing that Erik and Lyle both had to deal with such bad abuse for years on end from two horrible parents. I really hope that their sentencing is overturned because they were young when they committed the crime and also did not know better on how to get out of the abuse they were facing.”
Many “Monsters” fans who saw the brothers; story have been pushing for resentencing and are unwilling to give up the fight. But other viewers stand that making the brothers serve their full life sentences is fair because of how pre-meditated the murders seem to have been.
“I have watched the Netflix series on the Menendez brothers, and it is truly disheartening,” said Kendall McCabe, a freshman biology major. “No one deserves to deal with even a quarter of the abuse that the Menendez brothers were dealt. With that being said, I still do not think that murder is ever the answer and I think the brothers should remain in jail to complete their sentences. The show brings awareness to abuse, but the show overall seems to sexualize the story and make it something that it is not in a sense.”
A retrial is up in the air as many anxiously await to hear the verdict. Many viewers remain hopeful that the brothers will be returned home as soon as possible, while others hope they remain where they have been for the past 35 years.
