Do Menendez brothers stand likelihood at freedom? Former investigator predicts odds

Whilst brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez are pushing for his or her freedom, one guy who investigated their double homicide case believes their existence sentences must be upheld. 

“In the event that they have been dropped at trial once more these days, they might be discovered to blame,” Clark Fogg, a retired senior forensic specialist with the Beverly Hills Police Division, instructed Fox Information Virtual. 

Joseph Menendez, who is going by way of his center identify Lyle, and Erik have been convicted of capturing their folks, Jose and Mary “Kitty” Menendez, to loss of life of their Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, mansion in 1989.

They have been ordered to serve existence in jail in 1996, however they have got just lately been in the hunt for decreased sentences.

LYLE MENENDEZ, WHO SHOTGUNNED PARENTS TO DEATH WITH BROTHER, PLANS FOR LIFE AFTER PRISON AMID NEW APPEAL

“The jury’s, , the judgment got here down that they’re to stay in jail for the remainder of their existence. … We have now the most productive judicial machine, , anyplace on the earth,” Fogg stated. “And we need to abide by way of that and abide by way of what a jury feels and what the pass judgement on feels is suitable primarily based upon now not handiest this situation, however different instances.”

A brand new Netflix true crime drama, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Tale,” has sparked a variety of critiques on its accuracy and portrayal of the true tale from a long time in the past. 

Fogg believes the display is “completely erroneous” and “in keeping with information that didn’t occur.”

MENENDEZ BROTHER, WHO GUNNED DOWN PARENTS, SLAMS NEW SHOW FOR ‘DISHONEST PORTRAYAL’

Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez at the steps in their Beverly Hills house in November 1989.  (Ronald L. Soble/Los Angeles Occasions)

Erik Menendez revealed his personal commentary thru his spouse Tammi Menendez on X, announcing the display creates “a cartoon of Lyle rooted in terrible and blatant lies rampant within the display.” 

“It’s unhappy for me to grasp that Netflix’s cheating portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths a number of steps backward — again thru time to an generation when the prosecution constructed a story on a trust machine that men weren’t sexually abused and that men skilled rape trauma otherwise than ladies,” Erik stated in his commentary shared by way of Tammi. 

Fogg believes the brothers’ purpose for the murders needed to do with “greed and cash.”

“Why did they even need to kill their mother within the first position?” Fogg stated. “When you killed Mr. Menendez one after the other from her, she would finally end up getting the inheritance, proper? So that they needed to get rid of either one of them in an effort to have the inheritance.”

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Fogg investigated the Menendez brothers’ case in 1989. He took pictures and preserved proof on the crime scene, attended the autopsies and took the stand throughout each trials. When talking with Fox Information Virtual, he painted a horrific image of the crime scene. 

“Probably the most detectives needed to in reality dangle a golfing umbrella over my head as I used to be taking pictures as a result of, each so regularly, issues could be falling from the ceiling,” Fogg stated. “It comes down to at least one factor. The explanation why they are in prison is they killed their dad and mom brutally, now not poison them, however shotgun them to loss of life to some degree that they have been all over the place the ceiling. … That’s how brutally they have been murdered.”

Fogg, who has spent 40 years running in regulation enforcement and has performed over 30,000 crime scene investigations, stated he had 44 rolls of movie from the Menendez crime scene.

“It gave the impression of Mrs. Menendez was once looking to break out as a result of there was once blood at the backside of the soles of her shoe. … Even at that time, they stored on killing her with, , gunshot blasts, one after any other.”

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This 1992 record photograph presentations double homicide defendants Erik, proper, and Lyle Menendez, left, throughout a court docket look in Los Angeles. (Mike Nelson/AFP by the use of Getty Photographs)

In 2023, attorneys for the Menendez brothers introduced the invention of a letter written by way of Erik Menendez to a cousin, Andy Cano, 8 months sooner than the murders, wherein he is going into element concerning the ongoing abuse by way of their father.

“I have been looking to steer clear of dad,” Erik writes within the letter. The brothers declare this letter helps their unique testimony throughout the primary trial, alleging the abuse. 

Fogg wondered the authenticity of the letter. 

“We are speaking about his cousin demise, , 20 years in the past after which this letter mysteriously shooting up,” Fogg stated. “So, my questions are, is that this letter legitimate? Have they achieved a paper research on it? Have they achieved an ink research to decide whether or not or now not the ink is in reality courting from the Eighties?”

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Lyle, left, and Erik, proper, are pictured in contemporary mugshots from 2023. After years aside, they have been moved into the similar housing unit at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego in 2018, in line with the New York Day-to-day Information. (California Division of Corrections)

Kin of the brothers have just lately spoken out in reinforce in their freedom.

“We’re nearly all of the prolonged circle of relatives of Erik and Lyle Menendez. We’re 24 sturdy and these days we wish the arena to grasp we reinforce Erik and Lyle,” members of the family wrote in a commentary that Tammi Menendez posted to X according to the brand new Netflix collection. “We in my opinion and jointly pray for his or her unlock after being imprisoned for 35 years. We all know them, love them, and wish them house with us.”

Ryan Murphy, co-creator of the Netflix collection, instructed the Los Angeles Occasions, “I feel it’s pretend outrage. I feel that this tale, this Netflix collection, is the most productive factor that has came about to the Menendez brothers in 30 years as it’s getting folks to discuss it, and it’s getting folks to invite the questions which are essential.”

A separate documentary concerning the brothers, “The Menendez Brothers,” is scheduled to premiere on Netflix Oct. 7. The movie will “be offering any other point of view — that of the brothers themselves, supplied in all-new audio interviews,” in line with a press unlock. 

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Fogg believes the brothers stay in the back of bars for just right reason why. 

“They are in prison, and they are in prison for existence with out risk of parole for something and something handiest,” Fogg stated. “You do not homicide your folks. You do not homicide anyone, duration.”