Who were Jose and Kitty Menendez and how did they die? However, Lyle requested to be housed with Erik, and in April of 2018 was moved into the same unit as his brother. When affluent Beverly Hills couple Jose and Kitty Menendez were found murdered in their home on Aug. 20, 1989, an entire nation waited for answers. During her senior year, Kitty had participated in the Miss Oak Lawn beauty contest and won. After graduating, he passed the CPA exam and he became a successful businessman. In the years following her death, Kitty Menendez has been portrayed as either a loving wife and mother or as a hopeless, suicidal, alcohol and drug abuser, who cared more about her social status than about the welfare of her children. Christian Menendez Brothers 8. Jose Menendez was a businessman in California from Cuba Credit: AP:Associated Press. He moved to the US when he was 16, and met Mary Louise "Kitty". Their deaths seemed to come at the hands of burglars, which left locals in mortal fear until months later when authorities realized this hadn't been a robbery gone wrong, at all. On August 20, 1989, she and her husband were shot to death in their living room while watching television together. A third jury found both brothers guilty on April 17, 1996. All three family members are still unforgiving towards Kitty Menendez for what they believed happened to Erik and Lyle. I take it, Mr. Smith, that you did not like Jose Menendez at all, Bozanich said. Erik and Lyle Menendez. Painful. [13][14], Immediately after the killings, both brothers remained in the house, expecting police to respond due to the noise of the gunshots. The next evening, the brothers burst into the family room armed with shotguns and began firing. He was known among show business celebrities and had a successful career in the industry. Crime scene . This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. At some point, Kitty attended boarding school. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. While studying communications and production in college, Kitty Menendez participated in the Miss Oak Lawn beauty contest and won, drawing the attention of a charming Cuban immigrant named Jose Menendez. Both men will spend the rest of their lives in prison. This browser does not support getting your location. The story and . Make sure that the file is a photo. I killed the two people I loved the most.. The series also shows never-before-seen photos and new interviews with prosecutors, law enforcement, close family and friends, and medical experts. We have set your language to There are no volunteers for this cemetery. But their brutal murder was just the beginning. She had one older sister, Joan (b. When Dunne asked the boy if he knew the Menendez brothers, the boy responded no, as they were older than him. On Aug. 20, 1989, Mary "Kitty" Menendez and her husband Jose Menendez were infamously killed in the living room of their Beverly Hills home while watching a movie. Paranoid and afraid that they would be killed by their own parents, Lyle and Erik went outside of the house to load their shotguns. Jose was a businessman whose family migrated from Cuba to Illinois after. Try again. Erik provided the fatal blow into his mothers face. The brothers then stated that their father closed the den's door at that time, which was unusual. The disturbing double-homicide had been in motion for months and involved the calculated purchase of 12-gauge Mossberg shotguns. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Sorry! August 20, 1989. Despite the mutual lack of familial blessings and the fact that Menendez was three years younger than Kitty, the lovers decided to elope in New York City in 1963. How old are the Menendez brothers? Jose was described by witnesses as being verbally abusive and cruel to his wife. Jose Menendez suffered multiple wounds, including several . But he was experiencing marital problems and his relationship with both sons was deteriorating. Jose, meanwhile, had been shot point-blank in the back of the head. The family only stayed in Calabasas for two years. 0 cemeteries found in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA. On August 20, 1989, Jos and Mary "Kitty" Menendez were shot to death in their Beverly Hills home. 1. Kitty Menendez's brother, Brian Andersen, was the most vocal family member speaking out in defense of Jose and Kitty. On August 20, 1989, Jose Menendez and his wife, Mary Louise Kitty Andersen, were murdered in their Beverly Hills home. Kitty Menendez, whose sons described her as mentally unstable, told Erik on August 19, 1989, "'If I'd kept my mouth shut, things would have worked out in the family,'" he recounted. In one of the most famous Hollywood murders of all time, Erik and Lyle Menendez entered their home and murdered their parents, Jose and Mary Louis "Kitty" Menendez with a shotgun. When police did not arrive, the brothers picked up the shotgun shells from the ground and left the house to dispose of the guns and to build an alibi. Jose had suggested that Kitty could stay in New Jersey with Lyle who was expected to attend college in New Jersey, but Kitty quickly shot down the idea. As of February 2018, both men are housed in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, San Diego, California. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. At age 16, shortly after the start of the Cuban Revolution, he moved to the United States. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. In 2017, the Menendez brothers were featured in a documentary, In 2021, the Menendez brothers were the subject of ABC's, In 1994, the Menendez brothers were featured in the television film, In 1994, the Menendez brothers were loosely depicted in the crime film, In 2017, the Menendez brothers were featured in the, In 2008, "Gavin Volure", a season 3 episode of the TV series, In 2010, the Menendez brothers were referenced by, In 2016, the Menendez brothers were mentioned several times in the, In 1996, the media hype surrounding the first trial was parodied in the dark comedy film, In 2016, the Menendez brothers were subjects of the weekly comedic 'true-crime' podcast, The Menendez brothers are seen in the background of the, Menndez, Lyle; Novelli, Norma; Walker, Mike; and Spreckels, Judith (1995), Soble, Ronald L. and Johnson, John (1994), Thornton, Hazel; Wrightsman, Lawrence S.; Posey, Amy J. and Scheflin, Alan W. (1995), This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 16:15. Since Aug. 16, the defense has put on dozens of witnesses who have portrayed the Menendez family as being dysfunctional and Jose Menendez as a tyrant. The brothers left the family room, and Lyle reloaded his weapon, re-entered the family room and shot Kitty in the face, killing her. Kitty Menendez after being crowned Miss Oak Lawn in 1962. Fidel Castro overthrew the ruling government and seized the property of the wealthy and upper-middle class. Jose & Kitty Menendez's Death Was Gruesome. The unit where they are housed is reserved for inmates who agree to participate in education and rehabilitation programs without creating disruptions. . Jos Menndez Birth Name: Jos Enrique Menndez Birth Date: May 6, 1944 Birth Place: Havana, Cuba Death Date: August 20, 1989 Place of Death: 722 N Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, California Age: 45 Cause of Death: Homicide - gunshot wounds Cemetery Name: Princeton Cemetery Claim to Fame: Crime and their Victims Associates: Kitty Menndez Jose, 45, was a talented, tough-minded Cuban emigre who had vaulted up the corporate ladder in the United States and made a fortune in Hollywood as an executive in the video business. Lyle and Erik Menendez are serving their The brothers claimed the fatal shooting was a form of "imperfect self-defense," according to The New York Times. After Lyles birth, Kitty quit her teaching job and became a stay-at-home mom. Defense lawyers have said that they are near the end of their case if the tape is not unsealed. During the evening of August 20, 1989, brothers Lyle Menendez (aged 21) and Erik Menendez (aged 18) murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with a 12-gauge shotgun in their lush Beverly Hills mansion. Lyle Menendez claimed his father forced him to perform oral sex on him. Although the family was not among the elite, Jose's parents were celebrity athletes and he and his two sisters wanted for nothing. 200. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Kitty, along with her husband Jose, was gunned down by her sons, Lyle and Erik, in August 1989. The Menendez brothers will never be released from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. IMPORTANT: Completely inaccurate anyone can edit. [6][3] The following year, Erik began attending Beverly Hills High School, where he earned average grades and displayed a remarkable talent for tennis, ranking 44th in the US for 18-and-under players. by Chrissy Bobic. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Under cross-examination, Cox conceded that the last time he saw Kitty Menendez was in February, 1987. In the evening of August 20, 1989, while in the family room of their Beverly Hills home, Kitty and Jose were shot by their sons, Lyle and Erik, who were both armed with their Mossberg 12 gauge shotguns. "[27] Diane Vander Molen, another cousin of the brothers, stated that she once told Kitty about Jos's molestation of Lyle, although Kitty told her that it was false. Following Joses graduation and certification as an accountant, he started working for Coopers and Lybrand. Hercz also said that Kitty would constantly speak of a trip she was taking to visit family in South America, whereshe had no known relatives or family. There was an error deleting this problem. During the trial, Erik took the stand to testify that he and his brother feared Jose, and had been sexually abused by him. Thanks for your help! Jose Antonio Menendez (born March 11, 1969) is a member of the Texas Senate for District 26. Drag images here or select from your computer for Kitty Menendez memorial. One of Jose's assignments was to audit Lyon Container. Her father was an army veteran who own his own air conditioning and heating business, and her mother worked in an airport. In 1980, Jose began working for RCA as the chief operating officer, and made roughly $500,000 a year, reports the LA Times. [17] Erik hired a full-time tennis coach and competed in a series of tournaments in Israel. It was a wonderful ceremony until I had to leave. [36] Both brothers also filed motions for a mistrial, claiming that they suffered irreversible damage in the penalty phase as a result of possible misconduct and ineffective representation by Abramson. Both boys were convicted in a highly publicized and televised trial, one of the first publicly televised trials on the new Court Television Channel. This is a carousel with slides. In her final year at SIU, Kitty met Jose Menendez, a young Cuban immigrant three years her junior while he was a freshman. The Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle, have been in prison since 1996 due to their conviction of two counts of first-degree murder of their parents. [3], In the summer of 1976, Lyle and Erik's cousin Vander Molen, would often stay at the Menendez house in the summer. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, Want to solve climate change? Lyle said he took Erik into the woods and used a toothbrush to molest him. In all of his workplaces, he was credited with being an highly intelligent and diligent, but was widely disliked as arrogant and rude to co-workers and abrasive to subordinates. Despite the disapproval, Kitty and Jose started talking of marriage shortly after they began their relationship, and they eloped in New York in 1963 after Kitty graduated from college. By the age of four, both had grown up in the opulent Beverley Hills. The molestation allegations were heinous. Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez are American brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, Jos and Mary Louise Menndez. Kitty, meanwhile, was a homemaker and socialite. Photo: Courtesy of Lifetime. A Calabasas house. She graduated a year after Brian in 1959. Try again later. The Menendez brothers' homicides at a posh Beverly Hills mansionrattled the nation and thrust the uncomfortable topic of sexual abuse into the national spotlight. )[16], During the early stages of the investigation, police tried to narrow their search to suspects who had motives to kill Jos and Kitty. Lyle described Kitty as a woman who was in a lot of pain who was abused by her husband both emotionally and physically. . Returning home with an alibi in the form of tickets to Batman, Lyle called 911 feigning shock, Someone killed our parents!. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Try again later. Lyle's prosecutor, Pam Bozanich, argued that "men could not be raped because they lack the necessary equipment to be raped. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. When asked if they forgive Erik and Lyle for murdering Jose and Kitty, with . He told ABC News: If I could take my consciousness now and go back, I would have gone to the police and taken my chances in exposing what was happening., Erik, 50, expressed similar sentiments to People, saying: The way I reacted was so destructive to all. She recovered, but she and Jose continued to have marital problems, and their relationships with their sons became increasingly strained. You spoke at the memorial service, didnt you? she asked. Allein zwei Jahre brauchte es, bis entschieden worden war, dass die Tonbnder mit den Gestndnissen der beiden, die ihr Psychiater Dr. Oziel mitgeschnitte During the trial, the Menndez brothers stated that they committed the murders in fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, while the prosecution argued that they did it to inherit their father's multimillion-dollar estate. Tonight, ABC News will investigate their deaths in a two-hour documentary. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the fatal shootings and have been imprisoned since 1996. Jose was a successful businessman who was also an executive for RCA. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Jose took his CPA and worked as an executive for RCA in California. They are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole over the fatal shootings of their parents Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez. The request was approved by the prison board and he was transferred to the facility. Sure, serial killers ~killed~ people, but what did they actually do? Approximately $14 million is expected to be the net worth of Jose and Kitty Menendez. There was a problem getting your location. When affluent Beverly Hills couple Jose and Kitty Menendez were found murdered in their home on Aug. 20, 1989, an entire nation waited for answers. There had to be a series of decisions she made of not to tell what was happening. I have to be emotionally attached, and I'm emotionally attached to Erik My family does not understand. Lyle Menendez fired his shotgun into the back of his father's head, killing him instantly. Although the family was not among the elite, Jose's parents were celebrity athletes and he and his two sisters wanted for nothing. Maybe Even a Motive for Murder", "Lyle and Erik Menendez's Cousin Who Testified About Their Sexual Abuse Speaks Out for 1st Time", "A look back at the story and coverage of the Menendez murders", "Lyle Menendez Finally Speaks From Prison, 27 Years After Killing His Parents", "True Crime Revisited: The Menendez Brothers Case", "Remembering the Insanity of the Menendez Brothers Murder Case", "Why the Menendez Brothers Say They Killed Their Parents: Part 1", "Chuck's Spring Street Cafe in Princeton, NJ", "Here's How Much The Menendez Brothers Spent On Their Spree", "This Menendez Brothers Murder Map Puts the Crazy Story in Perspective", "Menendez Therapist's Ex-Lover Testifies: Trial: She says Oziel wanted the brothers to confess on tape so he could 'control' them. The trial began July 20. In 1989, while he and his wife were watching television, they were shot to death by their sons. Prosecutors were highly skeptical of Lyle Menendez's claims. [10], On the evening of August 20, 1989, Jos and Kitty were standing in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion when Lyle and Erik entered the den carrying shotguns. Echoing the testimony of those before, Cox said Kitty Menendez was dependent on drugs and alcohol, depressed and obsessed with appearances. She was 100 percent sure that they fabricated their defense. Failed to delete memorial. Dunne commented on the terrible nature of the murders, and the boy responded, Yeah, I heard the father was pretty rough on those kids., In a 1996 interview with Barbara Walters, Erik said his relationship with his father was, Brutal. 100. The opulent couple had worked so hard to provide for their boys and make a good life here in America." - Article continues below advertisement After they were married, Kitty and Jose struggled for money. Erik fired into his mothers leg, arm, and chest. Trivia. Embittered, she turned into a moody and depressed child and had few friends. 2 of 5. In 1963, they eloped, shortly after Betty received her BS degree in communications. Although Kitty didnt seem to have much of a problem with Eriks girlfriends, she had great distain for Lyles girlfriends, especially Jamie Pisarcik. Lyle and his brother received life sentences with no chance of parole. She was a communications major and participated in the radio broadcasting program where she learned how to produce dramas for radio. Jose Menendez was born to a prosperous family in Havana, Cuba. What day did the murder happen? Simpson and Scott Peterson are . They remained in separate prisons until February 2018, when Lyle was moved from Mule Creek State Prison in northern California to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County;[37] where they were housed in separate units. Jose transferred from SIU to Queens College where he studied more diligently than he had at SIU. Erik stated, "As I went into the room, I just started firing. I can't think about the sentence. The elder Menendez supposedly had codenames for four types of sex:"Knees" stood for oral sex, "nice sex" meant massaging his genitals,"sex" meant anal penetration,and "rough sex" meant he would force Lyle to perform oral sex on him while sticking sharp tacks and needles into his thighs and buttocks. The family was there for only two years until Jose resigned from his position after which the family moved to Monsey, New York when Jose worked for Hertz. , Pam Bozanich, argued that `` men could not be raped because they lack necessary! Quickly see who the memorial service, didnt you double-homicide had been shot point-blank in the opulent Beverley Hills husband... The request was approved by the prison board and he became a stay-at-home mom Facility in San Diego,.! 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