Family members of Menendez brothers want their release: ‘They deserve a chance to heal’

The group of family members have formed the Justice for Erik and Lyle Menendez Coalition. At a press conference yesterday, they called attention to the matter and for the release of the duo. Their case has received worldwide attention because of a drama series and a documentary on Netflix.

Brothers Erik (now 53) and Lyle (56) Menendez shot their parents Kitty and José Menendez at gunpoint in their Beverly Hills home in August 1989. Soon after they began spending money lavishly, buying several sports cars and Rolex watches, hiring a full-time tennis coach and taking luxury vacations.

Tyrannical father

Publicly they pointed the finger at the mafia; it is said that their rich father, a successful businessman, had been fighting criminals. But after the estranged psychiatrist’s mistress told the police about their confessions, the truth came out.

Then they changed their story: their demanding and tyrannical father had allegedly sexually abused the two brothers for years. They were also afraid that their parents were planning to kill them, which is why they would have struck earlier in self-defense. Justice and jury saw it differently: the brothers allegedly killed their parents to collect the inheritance. They were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996, after a second trial.

The case of the brothers is again in the world’s attention because Netflix made a TV series about it, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Last week a documentary program was also put online, in which the brothers themselves spoke (on the phone).

This week, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon announced that the case reviewed as new evidence was presented about the allegation that Erik was sexually abused by the father. There will be a hearing on November 29 where the brothers can argue their case.

Justice and healing

One of the family members in the new coalition is Anamaria Baralt, the daughter of Jose’s uncle. “All sides of the family come together in our organization,” she told the assembled media. “We have new hope for justice. This is about truth, justice and healing.”

According to her, the brothers “are victims of a culture that was not ready to listen.” This means that Erik and Lyle were hardly seen as victims of sexual abuse in the 1990s, as they are men. At that time, the idea of ​​male victims of sexual abuse was still taboo.

“Lyle and Erik deserve the chance to heal,” Baralt said, “and our family deserves the chance to heal with them.”

Their lawyers also argue that the trial would have had a different outcome if it had happened today, now that society recognizes that men can be the victim of sexual violence.

A second family member, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, told reporters: “I had no idea that the boys were being abused by my brother-in-law. Neither of us had a clue. Now we know the abuse has lasting effects and that victims sometimes act in ways that are difficult for others to understand because of the trauma.”

But, according to Sky News, there are also family members which the brothers do not want to be released at alllike Milton Andersen, Kitty’s brother: he believes that the brothers have received ‘appropriate punishment’ and should serve it. His lawyer said: “He does not believe the sexual abuse happened. He believes the boys acted out of pure greed because they had just heard their father wanted to cut them.” – out of his will.”