The new Netflix documentary titled “The Menendez Brothers”builds upon Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Story.”Despite featuring direct interviews with the brothers themselves, the documentary omits several “staggering”revelations from their initial trials.
While this latest true crime documentary has been deemed to have addressed some of the controversial aspects of “Monster Season 2″—particularly by including Erik and Lyle’s perspectives as they advocate for their release—it has sparked discussions among case followers. Since its release on Monday, October 7, audiences have expressed their desire for the inclusion of crucial details from the original trials surrounding the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez.
A TikTok user, @boundless.millennial, highlighted some of these overlooked details in a video, pointing out several troubling allegations and testimonies that support the ongoing claims of abuse made by the Menendez brothers.
“This Menendez documentary just rehashes familiar facts that we already know,”he asserts. “Numerous details from that trial have never been brought up in these shows.”
@boundless.millennial Monsters: Lyle & Erik Menendez Update 11/29/2024 Habeas Corpus – Free the body. They have evidence that proves there was abuse. The abuse evidence was intentionally excluded from the second trial to secure a conviction. This was a travesty of justice. Free the Menendez Brothers. #fyp #menendez #menendezbrothers #monsters #selfdefense #toxicpeople
He begins by mentioning an allegation that José Menendez drilled a hole in either the wall or ceiling of Erik’s bedroom in their Calabasas home, reportedly to spy on him.
Furthermore, Kitty Menendez was found to have recorded Erik’s phone conversations, which came to light only after the police discovered the tapes.
“Kitty made a key copy of Lyle’s apartment and handed it to Carlos Baralt, letting him check if any ‘gold diggers’ were there,”he recounts.
The testimony from the cousins of the Menendez brothers, though partially covered in the documentary “Monsters,”provides additional insight into life within their household.
A number of cousins expressed that while the allure of the Menendez family’s wealth initially excited them, most chose to shorten their visits due to the overwhelming “stress, fear, and discomfort”felt in that environment.
“It wasn’t just José; Kitty was equally unpredictable and could erupt at any moment,”the TikTok user elaborates.
One particularly striking testimony, discussed in “Monsters,”states that Kitty expressed a desire to end her own life due to José’s infidelity. However, @boundless.millennial goes further, suggesting she allegedly was indifferent to the consequences for her sons. “Kitty Menendez disliked Lyle from the moment he was born,”he claims.
“When he was just six weeks old, she considered dropping him off at her in-laws, visiting him only on weekends. During bedwetting incidents, she would humiliate him by rubbing his face in it and would not change the sheets. He even had to sleep on the floor.
“At two years old, she told family members that Lyle could fend for himself, neglecting to feed him while he resorted to climbing countertops for cereal.”
“Kitty never referred to them with terms of endearment. There was no affection; she showed no signs of kindness or love towards those boys.”
The brothers’ cousin Diane Vander Molen provided testimony about alleged abuse by José.
“Family members were told they couldn’t hug Erik because he was too sensitive… when he was merely a baby. She would express things like, ‘I wish I never had children. I’m stuck with these two fools,’ while they were only five and seven years old.”
A sixth point that “many people testified to” was that José Menendez allegedly locked himself in a room with the boys for 45 minutes at a time.
Lastly, a psychologist opined that the Menendez brothers possessed the emotional maturity of young boys aged eight to ten, attributed to “severe trauma” and intense control they were subjected to.
The TikToker emphasizes that while “poor parenting”doesn’t warrant capital punishment, he brings these points to light to illustrate that “all the testimony presented during the trial, including the small details, indicates there was indeed abuse occurring at home.”
“The crime was undoubtedly tragic and horrific,” he concludes. “But I feel it should be categorized as second-degree murder or manslaughter, not a threat to society. They deserve their freedom after 35 years. It’s time.”
@boundless.millennial’s video has gained traction on the Menendez brothers subreddit, with one user noting, “I believe this should have been the primary focus of the documentary.”
Critics of the Netflix documentary, aside from concerns over Pamela Bozanich’s involvement, have raised questions about the omission of new evidence that supports claims of abuse—evidence presented alongside a habeas petition filed last year. This legal request aims to assess the legality of the brothers’ detention, with the goal of overturning their first-degree murder convictions in favor of manslaughter.
Additional troubling evidence includes an affidavit from Roy Rossello, a former member of the prominent Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, claiming José raped him in the ’80s.
In light of this information, a Redditor commented, “I feel like this new documentary only scratches the surface of the case. They may have avoided mentioning Andy and Menudo due to their connection to the current habeas petition.”
“But this individual also overlooks Kitty’s instrumental role in the brothers’ abuse, including sexual assault against Lyle, along with other forms of physical and emotional degradation,” another user added. “As I sift through the testimonies from the first trial, I am staggered by the sheer volume of events that transpired against the brothers. I don’t know if any documentary can truly capture the depth of it all.”
The Menendez Brothers documentary and “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Story”are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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