The Menendez Brothers Part 1

Truer Crime

00:00 /

In the summer of 1989, wealthy media executive José Menendez and his wife, Kitty, were found dead inside their Beverly Hills home. The brutality of the crime was shocking enough, until the truth came out. Their killers weren’t intruders. They were their sons, Lyle and Erik. In Part One, we begin unraveling the story of a family that looked perfect on the outside, but was breaking apart from within.

Want early access to every episode, all at once? Tenderfoot+ subscribers get the full case at the start of each month—plus ad-free listening and exclusive content from over 30 shows. Sign up at tenderfootplus.com.

Please be aware that today’s episode contains descriptions of violence and and brief references to sexual assault. Please take care while listening.

A full transcript of this episode is available here.

“Erik Menendez, left, and is brother Lyle, in front of their Beverly Hills home, Nov. 30, 1989. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.”

“Lyle and Erik with their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez.”

“The Menendez family’s Beverly Hills mansion is pictured in this police evidence photo.”

“Erik, left, and Lyle Menendez in court on June 15, 1990.”

“Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave the courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 6, 1990, after a judge ruled that conversations between the two brothers and their psychologist after their parents were slain are not privileged and can be used as evidence in their murder case. Nick Ut/AP. ”

Dr. Jerome Oziel.

Judalon Smyth.

Action Items Related to Today’s Episode:

We talked a lot today about athletics and how central sports were to the lives of Lyle and Erik. So I want to turn that focus into support for a cause doing powerful work: The Army of Survivors.

I was honestly stunned to learn that nearly 13% of student-athletes experience sexual violence in sports. That’s absolutely heartbreaking to me—and it’s exactly what The Army of Survivors is working to change. They offer resources, education, and advocacy aimed at protecting athletes and reminding them that they always have the right to safety.

They’ve played a big role in getting new legislation passed, and they also created something called the Compassionate Coach® program—a trauma-informed training to help coaches create safer, more supportive spaces for their athletes.

If you want to learn more, get involved, or donate to support their work, head to thearmyofsurvivors.org.

Let’s stand with survivors—and work toward a future where every athlete is protected.

Audio Used:

YouTube: Menendez Brothers 911 Call uploaded by Menendez Case.

YouTube: News Coverage (1990-1996) – Menendez Brothers Trials uploaded by menendeztrials.

YouTube: The Menendez Murders | That Was the News Then: Episode 5 uploaded by FOX 5 New York.

YouTube: ABC NEWS – May 17, 1990 – The Menendez Brothers uploaded by menendeztrials.

YouTube: The police were wrong about the Menendez Brothers murders: Mob ties and a pro hit KCBS-2 8/22/1989 uploaded by UCLA Irv and Xiaoyan Drasnin Communication Archive

YouTube: Why the Menendez Brothers Say They Killed Their Parents: Part 1uploaded by ABC News.

YouTube: Cousins Who Lived with the Menendez Family Say the Brothers Were Abused upload3ed by Menendez Case.

YouTube: CA v. Menendez (1993): Erik Menendez Takes the Stand in Murder Trial [Part 1] uploaded by COURT TV

YouTube: CA v. MENENDEZ (1993): Lyle Menendez Takes the Stand (Part 1) uploaded by COURT TV.