Love Knows No Bars: The Unlikely Marriages of the Menendez Brothers
Love knows no bounds, but in some cases, it does know bars. Lyle Menendez, 56, and his brother Erik Menendez, 53, have been locked up since March 1990, when they were first arrested for the Aug. 20, 1989, murders of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.
And since each was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 1996 at the end of their second trial, they’ve been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
First Trial and Media Frenzy
But it was their first trial in 1993, which put “Court TV” on the map and triggered a four-ring media circus, that turned the Menendez brothers into full-blown celebrities. Mostly they were deemed villains, but also tragic figures. And, once the defense alleged that the siblings had been sexually abused by their father, some saw them as victims, too.
And in a not uncommon turn of events when it comes to criminal defendants, including convicted murderers, they became objects of desire to more than a few women on the outside.
The Women in Their Lives
Anna Eriksson
Lyle Menendez, then 28, married model and salon receptionist Anna Eriksson on July 2, 1996, the day he and brother Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Eriksson started writing to Lyle Menendez in 1993 during his first trial, which ended in a mistrial, and then moved to California to be near him the following year.
Rebecca Sneed
Lyle Menendez didn’t rush into anything when he married journalist Rebecca Sneed, reportedly 33 at the time, in November 2003: He had known her for 10 years, first through letters and eventually from in-person visits, a prison spokesperson told the Associated Press in confirming the nuptials.
Tammi Saccoman
Erik Menendez’s wife Tammi Menendez, now 62, was married to Chuck Saccoman when she first spied the younger Menendez brother on TV in 1993 and felt a special place in her heart for the 22-year-old murder defendant.
New Developments and Public Support
The 35-year-old case is back in the headlines – and not least because the brothers have always had their champions who believe they acted in self-defense, including numerous family members who held a press conference Oct. 16 to call for the siblings’ release from prison.
Attorneys for the brothers filed a habeas corpus petition in 2023 requesting that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office open an evidentiary hearing or vacate the convictions and sentences in the wake of alleged new evidence coming to light, including a letter purportedly written by Erik Menendez in 1988 in which he mentions being abused.
Conclusion
The case of the Menendez brothers is a complex and controversial one, with many believing that their claims of abuse by their parents played a significant role in their actions. Despite the life sentences without parole, the brothers have maintained a sense of hope and determination, thanks in part to their wives, Anna, Rebecca, and Tammi, who have been steadfast in their support.
FAQs
Q: What was the motive behind the Menendez brothers’ murders of their parents?
A: The motive behind the killings is a central part of the case, with some believing that the brothers acted out of self-defense or a desire for financial gain, while others believe they were simply cold-blooded murderers.
Q: Are the Menendez Brothers’ life sentences without parole fair?
A: The Menendez brothers have long maintained that their life sentences without parole are excessive, given the abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents and the lack of concrete evidence linking them directly to the murders.
Q: What is the current status of the Menendez brothers’ case?
A: The Menendez brothers’ case is currently under review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, with some arguing that new evidence has come to light that could potentially undo their convictions and sentences.
Q: Will the Menendez brothers ever be released from prison?
A: It’s impossible to say at this point, but given the current review of their case and the lack of parole options for those serving life sentences without parole, it seems unlikely that the Menendez brothers will be released from prison anytime soon.
