Did Lyle Menendez really abuse Erik? Fact-checking the alleged claims in The Menendez Brothers story

The Menendez Brothers documentary, released on Netflix on Monday, October 7, 2024, addresses and corrects several claims that were inaccurately portrayed in Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The documentary offers an accurate account of the brothers' story, particularly focusing on the trial in which they were convicted of murdering their parents.

Although the documentary clarifies many of the false claims made about the brothers, a new narrative has emerged on social media, with people questioning whether Lyle Menendez abused his brother Erik. This narrative originated from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which depicted the brothers as having an incestuous relationship.

Although Lyle Menendez did abuse Erik at a young age, many experts suggest that the situation is more complex, with some arguing that his actions were a reaction to the trauma they both endured.

During their original court trial, Lyle Menendez did admit that he abused his brother, Erik Menendez, when the former was 8 years old. In the statement, it was revealed that Lyle took Erik out into the woods, where the older penetrated his younger brother with a toothbrush. However, this was further revealed to be a response to the trauma they endured from their parents.

It was revealed that the Menendez brothers' father subjected them to the same abuse, and years of sexual mistreatment from him ultimately drove the brothers to kill both their parents. This theory was also proposed by author Robert Rand, who extensively covered their lives and wrote The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings that Stunned the Nation.

The author also suggested that Lyle's abuse of Erik likely occurred as a reaction to the sexual trauma they both experienced within their family.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rand said: "Rumors were going around the trial that maybe there was some sort of weird relationship between Erik and Lyle themselves. But I believe the only physical contact they might have had is what Lyle testified, that when Lyle was 8 years old, he took Erik out in the woods and played with him with a toothbrush — which is what José had done with him. And so I certainly wouldn't call that a sexual relationship of any sort. It’s a response to trauma."