Erik Menendez Finally Breaks His Silence On Murdering His Parents

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Erik Menendez Finally Breaks His Silence On Murdering His Parents

In the early 90s, the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, became household names after their murder case and trial was broadcast across the nation.

The notorious brothers were found guilty for murdering their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, with a shotgun in their Beverly Hills home in 1989.

NY Daily News

At the end of what was dubbed "trial of the century," Lyle and Erik were both sentenced to life in prison without parole in separate facilities.

Over the years, the Menendez case inspired documentaries, TV show plots and biopics, including the 1994 made-for-TV movie Menéndez: A Killing in Beverly Hills, and more recently, a documentary titled Truth and Lies: The Menéndez Brothers - American Sons, American Murderers.

Lyle, the eldest, has often spoken with the media and expressed regret for his actions. Just this past September, he was called into Megyn Kelly TODAY from prison for an interview.

"It's really, a regret every day, a regret every day, but at the same time, I can't escape what happened anymore than I can escape the memories of what happened to me," said Lyle, who is currently detained at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California.

People

Lyle still maintains that although the crime was not premeditated, he could no longer handle the abuse he and Erik suffered at the hands of their father.

"There really wasn't a discussion about killing my parents," he said. "I didn't know the details of what had happened between my brother and my father, and when I first heard about it, I had some of the same reaction that some people have, 'How could you not have resisted? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you run away? Why didn't you fight back against your father.'"

Now, for the first time in a decade, Erik is also breaking his silence on the chilling murders he's committed to share the "truth" about the entire situation.

On October 25, A&E announced an upcoming documentary series called The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All in which the younger Menendez brother will reveal his side of the story and clear up the rumos without the "restrictions of a courtroom."

"I've heard many different versions of my life told in the media, and those stories are fictional. I think it's time people hear the truth in my own words...," said Erik.

"For the first time in over a decade, Erik Menendez opens up with his most in-depth interview to date in The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All, a new documentary series that re-examines one of the most fascinating true crime tragedies of the past century through the lens of one of the convicted killers," read the press release.

Mic

Since camera's aren't allowed in the prison, the series will feature phone interviews with Erik, who is being held at the Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, never-before-seen footage and photos, interviews with family members, medical experts, prosecutors, and law enforcement.

In the trailer released a few days ago, 49-year-old Erik expressed regret for his actions over 30 years ago.

"From the moment after, I wanted to go back in time to take everything back that Lyle and I did. It was so wrong," he confessed. "I didn't want my parents dead, I just wanted the abuse to stop. Years and years of pain exploded that night in an unimaginable violence. It is my own personal hell."

"My only hope in speaking out is that people may have a more complete understanding," Erik continued. "All I can hope for is that people will come to realize that the truth is not a simple, one-line explanation that many people have tried to make it out to be. That really, that my life was this unfolding of a complicated life that I lived had all of these things that came into being and that led up to my involvement and responsibility for what is an ongoing and enduring family tragedy."

Daily News

A remorseful Erik added that "the tragedy didn't end on that night."

"It didn't end there for my family, and it continues on to this day, and that sadness is something that I am trying to make up for with them and with my parents for the rest of my life. It will never end."

You can watch the entire trailer in the video below:

The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All premieres on Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 p.m on A&E.

Will you be tuning in?

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.