- The Menendez brothers are two siblings, Erik and Lyle Menendez
- They were convicted of killing their parents in 1996
- An aunt of the brothers has spoken out for the first time in an interview
For the first time, an aunt of the Menéndez brothers is speaking out, 35 years after the crime. Erik and Lyle Menéndez, now 54 and 57, were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996. In 1989, they fatally shot their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. The reason for the shooting, the brothers claimed, was that they were afraid for their lives as they alleged their parents, and specifically their father, was sexually abusive to them.
On 11 April, a judge ruled that the resentencing of the brothers can move forward. The LA district attorney, Nathan Hochman, previously opposed the decision, but the judge has ruled in the brothers’ favor. The hearings will go ahead on 17 and 18 April.
If the hearings go well, the brothers could be eligible for parole.
Their story inspired the successful Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story.
The brothers are seeking a reduced sentence under a California law that lets inmates who were under 26 when they committed their crimes apply for parole, since the law recognizes that the brain keeps developing into the mid-20s. Maybe this could be a step towards victory for the brothers.
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However, that is not what we are here to talk about today. Their 85-year-old aunt’s first interview has Americans talking, but what did the family matriarch say? Keep reading to find out.
What did the Menéndez brothers’ aunt say?
The family sat down with ABC News to speak about the Menéndez brothers and their campaign for release. Terry Menéndez Baralt, the only surviving sister of Jose Menéndez, said: “For everybody, this is a story. For me, it’s very personal. Those kids, they are like the boys I didn’t have. So it’s time. 35 years is a long time. It’s a whole branch of my family erased.”
Baralt clarified, “The ones that are gone, and the ones that are still paying for it, which were kids.”
Exclusively, the news outlet revealed that Baralt was sadly fighting colon cancer, so the interview may be the last with all the family members together.
Family members of the brothers declared that, unanimously, they believe the brothers should be released.
Baralt is concerned she won’t see justice for the brothers
Concerning her colon cancer diagnosis, Baralt expressed worry that she may not live to see the brothers released. “It is a concern. I have tried to see them as much as I can, but it’s hard because I live in New Jersey and I’m 85. I don’t have that much time,” the 85-year-old said.
Interestingly, the cousin of the brothers, Diane, was told to pass a message on to the audience. “They are truly, deeply sorry for what they did, and they are profoundly remorseful. They are filled with remorse over what they did, and through that, they have become pretty remarkable people,” Diane repeated.
The family believes the Menéndez brothers were abused
Boldly, the interviewer asked the family if they had any doubts that the brothers were sexually abused by their father, to which the family all answered no.
Baralt denied knowing about her brother’s alleged abuse of his sons, “Who knows what’s going on in that house, unless you live there,” she responded to the question.
However, some of the cousins “suspected something”, according to their testimonies. Kathleen Simonton, another cousin of the brothers, spoke about how she vacuumed every day in the house, but “couldn’t vacuum past the bathroom in the hallway”.
As a result of this, she never saw the brothers’ bedrooms.
“When kids are little, they come to you, and you fix the problem. I can’t help them. There’s nothing I can do, just go visit them and cry when I leave,” Beralt heartbreakingly said of the Menéndez brothers.
An emotional Beralt was comforted by the family as she spoke tearfully.
Stay tuned for updates on the Menéndez hearings.
