Topics: Crime, Netflix, TV And Film, True Crime, Menendez Brothers
Warning: this article mentions sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.
In the days since Netflix's latest addition to the eerie Monsters franchise landed on the streaming service, viewers of The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story have been obsessively researching what the real individuals involved in the harrowing case really looked like.
The nine-part Ryan Murphy TV series tells the grisly true crime of the Beverly Hills brothers' violent murder of their parents José and Kitty in 1989.
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The duo fired countless close-range shots at their mother and father in their LA home, later telling police they'd returned home from the movies to find their parents in the gruesome state.
A number of months later, however - after managing to slip out of police suspicion, despite having begun elaborately spending their inheritance - Erik confessed the crimes to his psychologist, recordings of which were eventually apprehended by investigating authorities.
Their subsequently televised court case became a media sensation, after both Lyle and Erik claimed they'd acted in self-defence that fateful night.
The pair claimed - and were supported by several family members - that they'd both been subjected to years of emotional, sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their father, all the while under the knowing watch of their mother.
The Menendez brothers were subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Following the release of the brand new Netflix show, however, followers of the case have been trying to determine the facts from the fiction, including whether the actors involved gave an accurate portrayal of those involved.
As such, many have been wondering what a series of the show's supporting characters were like in real life...
A licensed psychologist, Dr J Oziel lived in the Los Angeles area with his wife and their two daughters prior to Erik Menendez' confession.
At the time, however, the therapist was embarking on an affair with one of his patients, a Miss Judalon Smyth, who also happened to be the only individual he revealed the Menendez family secret to.
The tapes were used as a means of convicting the brothers, after being considered admissible evidence after the therapist stated that Lyle had threatened him and violated doctor–patient privilege.
He now works in Marital Mediation in New Mexico.
As mentioned, Judalon was another of Oziel's patients, who revealed news of the confessions to police.
She also testified in court.
Leslie Abramson was hired to be Erik Menendez's lawyer shortly after they were charged with the crime.
The owner of her own private practice, she achieved global fame for her 'take no prisoners' approach, and had several high-profile clients before the Menendez brothers.
After they were sentenced, she told press in a conference: "I see it as exceedingly cruel and heartless."
Craig Cignarelli was one of the first individuals to report his belief that the brothers had committed the crime.
In the show, he is seen to be the co-writer of a play alongside Erik about a man who murders his parents and elaborately spends their money.
In an attempt to coax a confession out of Erik prior to his therapist admission, police asked Craig to wear a wire during a lunch at a beach front restaurant.
Unfortunately, however, Erik suspected he'd been hired by police and refused to admit his guilt.
