Bombshell crime show links Menendez brothers and Menudo to NJ accusations

⚫ The Menendez brothers grew up in NJ before moving to the West Coast

⚫ Erik and Lyle Menendez accused their father of abuse

⚫ A new sex abuse claim from a former boy band star gives weight to the brothers' claims

A new true-crime TV series reveals that a former member of Menudo has come forward with claims of being sexually assaulted by the father of the Menendez brothers while they still lived in New Jersey.

Brothers Eric and Lyle Menendez have been serving life sentences since being convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills. Their failed court defense involved claims of long-term abuse at home.

The television series was one of three recent programs that revisited the case, including a controversial dramatization and a documentary both released by Netflix.

L.A. prosecutors decide on resentencing

After renewed public attention, prosecutors will announce Thursday, Oct. 24, whether or not they recommend resentencing for the brothers, who were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If prosecutors do recommend resentencing, they would need court approval.

Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot their entertainment executive father, Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. The brothers said they feared their parents were about to kill them to stop people from finding out that Jose Menendez had sexually abused Erik Menendez for years.

The brothers’ extended family has pleaded for their release, saying they deserve to be free after decades behind bars. Several family members have said that in today’s world — which is more aware of the impact of sexual abuse — the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.

The Menendez brothers were tried twice for their parents’ murders, with the first trial ending in a hung jury.

Prosecutors at the time contended that there was no evidence of molestation, and many details in their story of sexual abuse were not permitted in the second trial. The district attorney’s office also said back then that the brothers were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

Menudo connection revealed in 2023 series

Roy Rosselló, a member of the boy band that shot to fame in the 1980s, says he was a teenager when he was victimized by Jose Menendez at the RCA music executive’s residence in Mercer County.

“Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” was set to debut May 2 on Peacock, the NBC-owned streaming service.

Menendez family roots in NJ

José and Mary Louis “Kitty” Menendez were found inside their home in Beverly Hills, California, each having suffered multiple gunshot wounds in August 1989.

Before moving to the West Coast, the Menendez family lived for about 16 years in a neighborhood on the fringe of Hopewell Township and Pennington.

Both Menendez brothers attended Princeton Day School.

At the time of the grisly killings, Lyle Menendez was 22 and Erik Menendez was 19.

Lyle Menendez also attended Princeton University for one semester in 1987 and another brief stint before their parents’ killings.

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Before being arrested alongside his brother, Lyle Menendez then bought a popular restaurant in Princeton, as reported by People, with plans of growing it into a franchise.

Their first murder trial ended in a mistrial in 1994.

Prosecutors had said that the brothers had killed their parents out of greed, to get access to the wealth that had been earned from their father’s career in the entertainment industry.

Their attorneys had countered with claims of self defense, saying the brothers had suffered years of abuse by their father, while their mother "turned a blind eye."

In 1996, the Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and each sentenced to back-to-back terms of life in prison, without possibility of parole.

In a clip promoting the docu-series, a criminal defense attorney tells the “Today” show that in order for the brothers to “breathe free air” again, their required legal journey is “a mountain to climb.”

He adds the new victim’s account does give the Menendez brothers a “glimmer of hope.”

Even deeper than the roots of the notorious brothers, there are several accused serial killers who have struck within NJ.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

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