This Netflix miniseries from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan doesn’t definitively conclude that Lyle and Erik had been abused but it surely does lend some actual credence to their claims. Murphy himself advised Leisure Tonight that “for those who watch the present, I might say 60-65% of our present middle across the abuse, and what they declare occurred to them. We do it very rigorously and we give them their day in courtroom, and so they discuss overtly about it.”
Whereas Monsters can’t supply up a ultimate reply on the subject of the Menendez’ motive, it does at the very least increase the query once more in a compelling manner. With that in thoughts, we thought it is perhaps time to check out that query ourselves. With Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story as a leaping off level, right here is all the things we all know in regards to the Menendez Brothers’ true motive and whether or not their claims have advantage.
Different sources consulted for this piece embrace: This Reddit thread compiled by u/kimiashn, CNN’s Court docket TV archives, and trial footage.
Lyle Menendez’ Hair Loss May Be Proof of Abuse
Youthful viewers experiencing the Lyle and Erik Menendez story for the primary time have been captivated by one ingredient specifically: Lyle’s hair loss. As depicted by Monsters‘ Lyle actor Nicholas Alexander Chavez, the actual life Lyle Menendez wore a hairpiece so costly and life like that his brother supposedly didn’t even understand it was a wig till his mom snatched it off Lyle’s head 5 days earlier than the murders.
No definitive rationalization has ever been provided up as to why Lyle started to lose his hair at an unusually younger age (reportedly round age 16). Not one of the different males within the Menendez household seem to have skilled untimely balding, suggesting that it wasn’t a hereditary situation. It’s been well-documented, nevertheless, that stress can contribute to hair loss at any age, together with stress associated to sexual trauma.
Lyle’s hair loss as a symptom of abuse was introduced up by the protection throughout his trial. Skilled witnesses, together with Dr. Ann Tyler, additionally pointed to behaviors like hypersexualization, sensitivity to the touch, and appearing out as proof of Lyle having been abused. Skilled testimony will not be first-hand proof and must be weighed appropriately. Moreover, it was completely established that each Menendez boys skilled vital ranges of stress attributable to their overbearing father on the whole, so Lyle’s hair loss could possibly be attributed to that and never sexual abuse.