If you’re big into the world of true crime, like I am. You probably know the story of Erik and Lyle, the Menendez brothers. The two brothers who in 1996 were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.

Well now, with the help of social media and the new age of the world, the brothers may get a new lease on life as they inch closer to freedom, as the Los Angeles County District attorney weighs new evidence. 

With the release of the second season of Monsters was released to Netflix and this time it focused on Erik and Lyle. The show depicts the lives and Erik and Lyle leading up to and the ensuing trial after murdering their parents. Now if you’re unfamiliar with the details of the case. The brothers till this day have never denied killing their parents, but their defense, as that’s what’s helping drive public opinion recently. The brothers during the trial accused their father, Jose, of being a physical and sexual abuser for almost all of the boy’s lives. And that the reason they killed their parents was actually self defense, as they felt their fathers abusive ways would never end.

Public opinion seems to be shifting for the Menedez brothers, as originally they were just seen as two, well, monsters. But with the changing of the world and more knowledge on the effects of abuse and PTSD. Family members of the brothers as well as people on social media are calling for them to be released. As their image has shifted from murderers to victims.

The release of the Monsters docuseries is also helping shape opinions. As the show did not shy away from talking about and showing the abuse the brothers endured at the hands of their father. The case to me draws similarities to Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who in 2023 was released 2 years early after serving 8 years of her 10 year sentence for her involvement in the murder of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard. The defense in that case being Gypsy suffered years of abuse at the hands of her mother. Who supposedly forced her to pretend to be disabled and terminally ill. The rest of the world seemed to believe Gypsy should still be behind bars for her involvement in the crime. So what’s different about the Menendez brothers?