As popular as true-crime stories are these days, it’s not surprising that certain cases are revisited repeatedly by different networks and from various perspectives.
One of those criminal cases that dominated the headlines in the late 80s and early 90s was that of the Menendez brothers. In 1989, Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are of Cuban descent, killed their parents inside their Beverly Hills mansion with shotguns. Their 1993 murder trial became a national phenomenon when it was broadcast on Court TV. Nearly 30 years later, the Menendez case has captivated a new generation of true-crime enthusiasts on TikTok, so much so, that there is now a “Free the Menendez Brothers” movement.
Now, Investigation Discovery (ID), a leading crime and justice network on TV, will debut a new documentary on the murders. Menendez Brothers: Misjudged? will take viewers back through the evidence of the shocking crime and captivating trial. During the trial, the prosecution argued that the murders were committed for financial gain. The defense said the brothers killed their parents after a lifetime of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. In 1996, both brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“The TikTok fascination with the Menendez brothers is not only a fascinating example of how certain cases never really leave our public consciousness, but also an interesting look at the way different generations grapple with conversations around abuse, masculinity, and violence,” Jason Sarlanis, President of Crime and Investigative Content, Linear and Streaming at Discovery Inc. said in a statement.
The documentary will include a new interview with Lyle Menendez and new insight from attorneys, reporters, legal experts, investigators, and TikTok users who brought the case back into the spotlight.
Menendez Brothers: Misjudged? premieres on Investigation Discovery on August 7, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET and will stream the same day on Discovery+.