How were Erik and Lyle Menendez caught? Netflix revisits Beverly Hills murder case in new series

In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their parents at their Beverly Hills home.

The brothers, then 21 and 18 respectively, were arrested in 1990 for the deaths of Josẻ Menendez, an entertainment executive, and wife Mary Louise ‘Kitty’, the Los Angeles Times reported that year.

The deaths were initially connected to organized crime, but investigators turned their attention to the brothers. As prosecutors pointed toward greed as a motive, the defense argued the Lyle and Erik had faced years of abuse, Time reported .

The murders are now the subject of a new series on Netflix , “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” that is streaming on the platform Thursday. The anthology is from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

Here’s what to know about the series and the real-life case.

‘Monsters: The Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez Story’ Netflix cast

The Netflix series stars Javier Bardem as Josẻ Menendez and Chloë Sevigny as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. Nicholas Chavez portrays Lyle Menendez and Cooper Koch portrays Erik Menendez.

How were the Menendez brothers caught?

The Menendez brothers were caught when authorities received a tip that revealed Erik had confessed in therapy and that there were recordings of it, Time reported . But the attention had already turned to them due to their lavish purchases after the deaths of their parents, Today reported .

What happened to the Menendez brothers?

Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 10, 1996, according to the Associated Press . That came after the brothers were tried separately, according to USA TODAY . The brothers claimed their father committed sexual abuse against them since they were children, and their mother was aware of it, USA TODAY reported.

Where are Lyle and Erik Menendez now?

The brothers are incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, according to the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search .

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How were Erik and Lyle Menendez caught? Netflix revisits Beverly Hills murder case in new series