Erik and Lyle Menendez were found guilty of brutally murdering their parents on March 20, 1996. Months later, they were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In the decades since, their case has continued to transfix the true-crime world — most recently with Netflix's series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," which premiered on Sept. 19.
Here's a look into some of the most asked questions about the brothers since their March 1990 arrests.
Where are they now?
Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez are both alive and currently incarcerated at California's RJ Donovan Correctional Facility, according to the California Department of Corrections.
The brothers were reunited in April 2018 after spending over 20 years apart behind bars. Before they were moved to the same facility, the last time they reportedly saw each other was Sept. 10, 1996, according to ABC News.
When will the Menendez brothers be released?
Likely never. The Menendez brothers are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
"They will never get out unless something dramatic surfaces involving their case, which is highly unlikely," Court TV anchor Ted Rowlands explained. "Even if they were eligible for parole, they would likely never get out because of politics. A parole board would have to recommend release, but in California, the governor must sign off on it, and they rarely do, especially in high-profile cases."
WATCH the full Menendez Brothers trial on Court TV
Rowlands says one of the most recent examples is Gov. Gavin Newsom blocking parole for Charles Manson followers Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, despite a parole board recommending their release.
Why did the Menendez brothers kill their parents?
During their first trial in 1993, both brothers testified they killed their parents because they feared for their lives after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of Jose and Kitty Menendez. Prosecutors argued they killed their parents to gain access to their $14 million inheritance.
How did the Menendez brothers get caught?
The prosecution's smoking gun at the center of the case was Erik Menendez's therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, and his audio tapes of their sessions. Dr. Oziel began rec1993ording their sessions at the haste of his lover, Judalon Smyth, who said they needed the recordings to protect themselves. At trial, the jury heard Erik's Dec. 11, 1989 confession to Dr. Oziel.
Are the Menendez brothers married?
Both brothers have married since being incarcerated.
Erik Menendez married Tammi Menendez in 1999. In a 2005 interview with People, he said his first contact with Tammi was during his 1993 trial when she wrote him a letter, but they didn't meet in person until 1997. Tammi released a book about their relationship in 2005, and the couple is still married.
Lyle Menendez married his first wife, Anna Eriksson, months after his murder conviction in 1996. The pair divorced five years later. He later married Rebecca Sneed in 2003, reported People.
Why did Erik Menendez put lemon on his food?
The TikTok obsession with the Menendez brothers has spurred viewers to research specific moments of their 1993 trial. In particular, Erik Menendez's testimony about putting lemon on his food.
While testifying about the alleged sexual abuse he suffered from his father, Erik said he would pour lemon on his food to diminish his sense of taste.
Why did Lyle Mendez wear a toupee?
At trial, the brothers testified that Lyle's hairpiece was the secret that brought them together.
During an argument in August 1989, Kitty ripped Lyle's toupee off in front of Erik. The defense claimed that the incident led Erik to confess to Lyle that their father had been abusing him for years, with Lyle admitting the same. Less than a week later, the brothers murdered their parents.
This story was originally published by Ivy Brown on Court TV.
