The new owners of the notorious Menendez family home in Beverly Hills are proceeding with extensive renovations despite ongoing interest from tourists and the recent resurgence of the infamous case in the media.
Located in the upscale Beverly Hills flats, this Mediterranean-style residence was the site of the tragic 1996 killings of Kitty and Jose Menendez, who were shot by their sons Erik and Lyle Menendez.
The brothers, who were given life sentences without the possibility of parole, commenced resentencing hearings last week. These hearings come in response to newly revealed evidence and increased public interest, which have led their legal team to argue for the reduction of their sentences, potentially opening the door to parole eligibility.
Back in March, the property was sold for $17 million to an LLC known as LAHA ELM, and it boasts seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms across a generous 9,063 square feet.
Despite the ongoing renovations aimed at transforming the home, the new owners have taken measures to shield the property from the influx of sightseers. They installed wire fencing with black screens to deter onlookers who seek glimpses of the notorious murder site.
In October, the Beverly Hills Police Department reported responding to numerous calls concerning noise complaints and trespassing incidents at the Elm Drive residence.
Social media has amplified public interest in the case, with users on platforms like TikTok sharing videos from outside and, in some cases, inside the house despite the construction barriers.
TikTok movements advocating for the brothers gained traction in 2023, particularly after highlighting claims of sexual abuse that Lyle and Erik allege they suffered at the hands of their parents. Public sentiment has shifted among some viewers who are now calling for their release.
This recent notoriety was further fueled by Netflix’s dramatized series, ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’, featuring well-known actors such as Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch. Shortly after, a documentary titled ‘The Menendez Brothers’ premiered on the platform, showcasing fresh interviews with the siblings.
Interestingly, although the case received significant attention from Netflix productions, the actual Menendez mansion was not used in the filming. Instead, a look-alike property was utilized to portray the infamous scenes.
The combination of renewed media interest and the emergence of new evidence prompted a review of the Menendez case by former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón after a span of 35 years.
In court documents filed last year, two significant pieces of evidence were brought to light, reinforcing the brothers’ claims of prolonged sexual abuse. One piece of evidence includes a letter Erik penned to a cousin in early 1989, detailing the ongoing abuse from their father shortly before the murders.
In this letter, Erik expressed his distress, stating, “I’ve been trying to avoid dad. It’s still happening Andy, but it’s worse for me now. I can’t explain it. … I never know when it’s going to happen, and it’s driving me crazy. Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. I need to put it out of my mind.”
Additionally, new allegations surfaced from a former teenage member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, claiming that he too was sexually abused by Jose Menendez, who held a position as an RCA executive.
While these allegations remain unverified, Gascón made it clear that the district attorney’s office has a moral and ethical responsibility to review the presented information before making any determinations regarding resentencing.
In a contrasting stance, newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman is advocating for the brothers to remain incarcerated, labeling them as liars. He expressed willingness to consider resentencing only if they fully confess to the entirety of their criminal actions and disclose all fabrications related to the case over the past three decades.
Erik and Lyle Menendez have been imprisoned since their conviction for the August 1989 murder of their parents, Kitty and Jose, while they were watching television inside their home. The brothers were ultimately convicted during a second trial after the first attempt resulted in deadlocked juries.
While prosecutors during their trial argued that the siblings killed their parents for financial gain, the brothers vehemently denied this narrative, insisting they shot their parents in response to severe and prolonged sexual abuse they endured at the hands of their father.
The high-profile case captivated the nation, polarizing audiences as the brothers openly admitted to committing the act of violence while insisting that the motivations were rooted in their traumatic experiences rather than financial motives.
image source from：https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/new-owners-menendez-brothers-mansion-move-forward-renovations
