There have been very few criminal cases quite as compelling as that of the Menendez Brothers. Back in 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez made headlines when they reported that their father had been killed. But after they confessed to a psychologist that they had murdered their father, the psychologist’s girlfriend reported them to the police.
This led to two earth-shaking trials in which the public was split…some saw these brothers as coldhearted killers and others viewed them more sympathetically after they claimed that their father had sexually abused them. Eventually, both of them were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in prison.
The Menendez Brothers have spent decades behind bars, even as the explosion in true crime content has increased public fascination with their case. That got us to ask the big question: what has life in prison been like for these two men? If you’ve been asking the same thing, keep reading to finally find the answers!
A bleak, early report about life in prison
While more recent information about the Menendez Brothers’ life in prison has come to light recently (more on this soon), some of the first info they gave us dates back to 2005. That was when Erik opened up about his new life to People, and what he described painted a very bleak picture of his new life.
“The cell I live in is tiny … about 6′ by 4’,” he said. He didn’t have his own space, claiming that “Two people live in the cell.” And if the room measurements don’t make it clear how tiny his accommodations were, Erik elaborated on the conditions of his cell for curious readers. “The cell is so small that only one person can be up off the bunks at a time. There is a commode and a sink.”
Beyond how limited his space was, life in prison was a major adjustment for Erik in other ways as well. “The thing you have to get used to in prison are the violent noises,” he said. “It is very difficult to live with.” When this interview came out, some opened up their hearts to Erik, wringing their hands over the idea that nobody should have to live like this. The brothers’ fiercest critics, though, pointed out that he is a cold-blooded killer and, quite frankly, other prisoners were likely more frightened of him than he was of them!
Turning over a new leaf behind bars
If you’re already starting to feel sympathy for the Menendez Brothers, don’t worry: things got better for them in prison. For example, Erik elaborated to People about his marriage to Rebecca Sneed. The two tied the knot in 2003 despite Erik being behind bars, and this relationship serves as a source of strength and inspiration to the convicted felon. “Our interaction tends to be very free of distractions and we probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do, who are distracted by life’s events.”
And both Lyle and Erik seemed to turn over a new leaf once prison became their permanent home. Rather than just sitting around and moping, for example, Erik offered care and comfort to inmates who had contracted terminal illnesses. Meanwhile, Lyle helped counsel inmates who were still processing their sexual trauma.
Still, each brother had to deal with the sad reality that, in all likelihood, they would never see each other again. Sure, they wrote letters back and forth, but that’s not quite the same as meeting up face-to-face. Fortunately, the two were able to finally reunite a whopping 22 years after their conviction.
Reunited and it feels so good
In 2018, the Menendez Brothers were finally reunited. Journalist Robert Rand witnessed the reunion and described what happened to ABC News. “They just hugged each other for a few minutes without saying any words to each other. Then the prison officials let them spend an hour together in a room.”
At first, it looked like they might not see much of one another because Lyle was put in a different section of Erik’s prison after he transferred in. He was transferred a few months later, meaning that the two brothers are now able to see each other on a daily basis.
A new life and a new hope
Once the Menendez Brothers were reunited in jail, they continued doing their best to help those around them. Robert Rand told A&E how “Erik leads several self-help groups every week at Donovan, including a mindful meditation group, and has started a hospice group at Donovan.” Meanwhile, Lyle is championing prison reform, and both brothers worked hard on sprucing up their prison with a large mural.
On top of that, there’s a slim chance the brothers might not be stuck in prison forever. New evidence may prove their original sexual assault allegations against their favor, and the brothers have a new hearing set for November 26. That hearing is quite important as it may literally dictate the rest of these famous felons’ lives.