Monsters: Did the Netflix series tell the truth about the Menendez brothers? We sort truth from fiction!

In Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story, Ryan Murphy takes us to one of the most high-profile trials of the 1990s, that of the Menendez brothers, who are accused of murdering their parents.

This family drama, marked by violence and manipulation, is captivating Netflix audiences with this new adaptation. However, some aspects of this controversial story raise questions about their veracity.

In this article, we separate fact from fiction around these central elements, shedding light on the actual context of these events and their impact on the fortunes of the Menéndez brothers, both in fiction and reality.

Story “Friends”

It’s almost too “good” to be true, and yet… as the series says, Eric Menendez actually wrote the screenplay for the movie two years before his crime.

Entitled Friends, it tells the story of how a certain Hamilton Cromwell kills five people around him – including his girlfriend and her parents – in order to get an inheritance estimated at $157 million. We can also read certain passages in this article Los Angeles Times.

A scenario that the prosecution used during the trial for two reasons: According to the prosecutor, Eric and Lyle killed their parents to get the money (which they happily spent) and mode of operation Identical to the Menendez assassination used by Cromwell…on paper it was the perfect crime.

their incestuous relationship

This is one of the most critical points of the series, before the silence of one of the two brothers: Eric and Lyle’s incestuous relationship. In Monsters, we see them being physically very close, sometimes kissing or showering together.

The co-creator of the series wanted to defend himself by explaining that they wanted to show multiple points of view, which is not necessarily true.

So the two brothers were so close? We will never know, but the journalist who covered the case very closely and who published a book on the subject Believes that there was never an incestuous relationship between Eric and Lyle, except for one event that is mentioned in the series:

“Lyle explained that when he was 8 years old, he took Eric to the woods and used a toothbrush to play with him – just like Jose used to do with him. I wouldn’t call it a sexual relationship, but a trauma response.” he said in the Hollywood Reporter.

Monsters on Netflix: This is what the real heroes of the Menendez case look like

Judalon’s Double Truth

The Menendez brothers most likely would have been able to avoid prison if Eric had not confessed to the murder to Dr. Oziel, a psychologist they had known for several years.

The Netflix series stayed pretty true to reality when dealing with this part of the case: The specialist actually asked his mistress, Judalon Smith, to come to his office to be a witness if the two brothers ever wanted to kill. him.

And it was he who alerted the police to the crime committed by Eric and Lyle. The latter initially explained to investigators that he had heard the head of the family confess to the murder, before threatening Dr. Oziel with revenge if he did not hold his tongue.

before returning to his notesSome time later: Explains at trial that he only heard “conversation” but nothing to indicate that the brothers killed their parents.

At the same time, Judalon filed a complaint against his ex-girlfriend, accusing him of drugging and abusing her. Oziel lost his license as a psychologist in 1997. Since then, she has returned to testifying and claims confidently that she heard Lyle confess to the crime.

Testimony cross-examined by the defense, who believes the door was too thick to get through…

The connection between the Menendez brothers and OJ Simpson

The series rightly notes that Lyle and Eric Menendez shared a special bond with OJ Simpson, who were cellmates. But their relationship goes further. We study through the site Biography that in the late 1970s, Jose Menendez, the brothers’ father, helped Simpson land an advertising contract with Hertz, the company he worked for.

OJ Simpson, then at the peak of his sports career, was even a regular visitor to Menendez’s home. Later, when all three men found themselves in prison awaiting trial, they shared legal advice and formed a deeper bond behind bars.

Eric Menendez even helped Simpson connect with attorney Johnnie Cochran. That’s why this closeness was only touched upon in the series, even though their bond was stronger.

Telephone records by Norma Nowell

Another defining point of the series is the relationship between Lyle Menendez and a woman named Norma Nowell, who became a regular correspondent and frequent guest. site MSN It is said that in 1991, he began recording their phone conversations with Lyle’s permission in order to write a book that would show a different side of him.

However, those records backfired on Lyle when they sold for $12,500, a relatively modest amount considering the magnitude of Menendez’s case.

A book called The Personal Diary of Lyle Menendez: In His Own WordsIt contained details that prosecutors later used to discredit Lyle during his second trial. This turn of events had a direct impact on the defense strategy of the Menendez brothers.

Their lawyer, Leslie Abramson, criticized the novel, saying that if the information was really that crucial, it would be worth much more than the publisher paid.