The Notorious Menendez Brothers

For months, Lyle and Erik Menendez had complained to each other about their father, Jose Menendez. They complained about how domineering and controlling he was, how impossible it was for either brother to please him, how he planned to disinherit both brothers from his will and how poorly he treated their mother. Obviously weary of having to live up to unattainable expectations and petrified of losing their inheritance, they felt as though they were left with only one option - murder. The brothers concluded that if they killed their father, they would have to kill their mother as well as she could not survive emotionally without him. In addition, if their mother wasn't killed, she could also be a living witness to the crime they were about to commit. Lyle, the older brother, wanted to plan the murders so that they would be as "perfect as could be," but Erik, the younger brother, could not wait and insisted that the murders take place as soon as possible. The murders ultimately occurred on the night of August 20, 1989.