Real life story behind the wives of Menendez brothers and how they met Erik and Lyle

Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.

There has been a huge resurgence of interest into the personal lives of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez following the release of a Netflix dramatisation of their crimes - including who they're married to.

A nine-part dramatic retelling hit Netflix in recent days, named Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, produced by Ryan Murphy - the man behind the extremely controversial Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

While the series has been slammed for inaccuracies by Erik Menendez himself, people can't resist tuning in.

The production claims to retell the story of the brothers, who were sentenced in life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1996 murder of their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.

José and Kitty were shot a total of 16 times in their lavish home, with a gauge shot gun, in 1989.

At the time of the murders, Lyle was 21 and Erik just 18.

While they managed to evade suspicion for years, the brothers were caught as a result of a confession to a psychiatrist.

When facing trial, they admitted murder but insisted it was the result of a lifetime of sustained sexual, emotional and physical abuse by their father - which was known by their mother who failed to protect them.

After evidence of their abuse was excluded from proceedings, the prosecution claimed the murders were a cash grab (with José's estate standing at $14 million at the time), and the brothers were imprisoned.

The series sees Erik Menendez confessing the crimes to his therapist (Netflix)

Despite having been incarcerated for over three decades, the brothers have managed to embark on loving relationships that resulted in marriages.

But who are the women who married the infamous Menendez brothers, who are now locked up together in the Donovan Correctional Facility in California?

FYI, the prison doesn't offer conjugal visits - so both marriages are unconsummated.

Who is Lyle Menendez married to?

Lyle, now 56, has been married twice.

First off, he was wed to former model Anna Eriksson between 1996 and 2001.

They first became acquainted after becoming pen pals.

The two were married over the phone, and Anna filed for divorce, claiming Lyle had been unfaithful with other penpals.

In 2003, Lyle married again, this time to journalist Rebecca Sneed who remains his wife.

As per Glamour, the two knew each other for a decade before tying the knot.

In 2017, Sneed told People: "We try and talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day. I have a very steady, involved marriage and that helps sustain me and brings a lot of peace and joy. It's a counter to the unpredictable, very stressful environment here."

Erik and Tammi Menendez (ABC)

Who is Erik Menendez married to?

Erik, 53, is married to his first and only wife - and has been for more than 20 years.

Erik married his wife, Tammi Menendez, after first making contact in 1993 - when she wrote to him in jail.

Tammi was married to another man, Chuck, at this time and the two had a daughter.

Devastatingly, Tammi had reason to believe Chuck was sexually assaulting their daughter.

Chuck then turned himself into the police and committed suicide two days later.

Following the death, Tammi and Erik met in person in 1997.

Erik now treats Tammi's daughter as his own, and she runs an Instagram page advocating for his innocence, @seterikmenendezfree.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.