How Netflix and TikTok could propel the Menendez brothers to freedom

April 9, 2025 | 9:00am

The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. Initially, the brothers claimed they found their parents dead, but suspicions arose when they spent their inheritance recklessly. After confessions from Erik to his psychologist, they were arrested and tried for first-degree murder, with their defense arguing they acted out of fear after years of abuse from their father. Their trial captivated the public, dividing opinions between those who saw them as traumatized victims and others as manipulative killers. Despite being sentenced to life in prison, the case gained renewed attention through media, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Netflix, with many supporting the brothers' claims of abuse. In recent years, new evidence has emerged, and public figures like Kim Kardashian and Rosie O'Donnell have advocated for their release, leading to renewed calls for a re-sentencing.