Erik and Lyle Menendez: the truth about their connection with O.J. Simpson in prison
1 december 2024 в 20:13
The story of Erik and Lyle Menendez in the series «Monsters» shows an episode where Cooper Koch portrays Erik Menendez, who is talking to O.J. Simpson from his cell. But did O.J. really cross paths with Erik and his brother Lyle in prison?
The late 76-year-old Simpson, who passed away earlier this year, became the face of the most publicized trial in America in 1994. At that time, Lyle and Erik were also behind bars, awaiting trial for the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise «Kitty» Menendez.
Hollywood Life breaks down everything we know about the alleged connection between O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers. Read on to find out more.
After O.J.'s ex-wife, Nicole Brown, was fatally stabbed, the former athlete was accused of her murder. However, on the day he was supposed to surrender to authorities in June 1994, O.J. drove off in his 1993 Ford Bronco, leading to a police chase on the 405 freeway in California. He was then arrested and went to trial for most of 1995.
O.J. was acquitted in October 1995, but in 1998, he was found guilty of the murders of Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. In 2007, O.J. was arrested and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison and was released on parole in 2017.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, O.J. was indeed in a cell next to Erik in a Los Angeles prison. The publication reported that Erik and O.J. had several conversations over a period of 10 days. Robert Rand, author of the book «The Menendez Murders», - revealed more details about their relationship to the publication.
«I remember Erik telling me that O.J. was very friendly with all the deputies, and all the deputies, you know, were coming with autographs», - Rand told THR. «They were used to having celebrities like O.J. in their support. So Erik would call me every night, giving me updates, 'Today this happened or that.' But I got the impression that O.J. really valued the friendship and advice from Erik».
Robert also claimed in his book that Lyle also talked to O.J. in prison and gave him advice on choosing a defense team.
«O.J. and Lyle Menendez spent many hours in the prison attorney room, waiting for their lawyers or material witnesses», - the writer wrote. «Over 100 hours of contact between the two inmates, these two high-profile inmates openly talked and exchanged dozens of letters. Lyle advised O.J. to consider a plea deal, and O.J. briefly considered it — according to Lyle, but later told Menendez that he couldn’t do it because it would ruin his reputation, and he would never be able to work again».
O.J. passed away at the age of 76 in April 2024.
The Menendez brothers are currently in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Lyle was transferred there in 2018, and the brothers were reunited in the same housing unit that year, marking the first time they had seen each other since their conviction in 1996.
In October 2024, it was announced that Lyle and Erik would have a new court hearing. This hearing opened the door for a new sentence or even a review of the case. On October 24, former Los Angeles prosecutor George Gascon officially recommended a review of their sentence and the possibility of parole. However, Gascon was ousted in the elections by Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, who will take office on December 2. Hochman stated that he would need time to review the case documentation before making a decision on the sentence review.
The hearing, originally scheduled for December 11, was postponed to January 30, 2025. On November 25, the judge
The late 76-year-old Simpson, who passed away earlier this year, became the face of the most publicized trial in America in 1994. At that time, Lyle and Erik were also behind bars, awaiting trial for the murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise «Kitty» Menendez.
Hollywood Life breaks down everything we know about the alleged connection between O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers. Read on to find out more.
After O.J.'s ex-wife, Nicole Brown, was fatally stabbed, the former athlete was accused of her murder. However, on the day he was supposed to surrender to authorities in June 1994, O.J. drove off in his 1993 Ford Bronco, leading to a police chase on the 405 freeway in California. He was then arrested and went to trial for most of 1995.
O.J. was acquitted in October 1995, but in 1998, he was found guilty of the murders of Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. In 2007, O.J. was arrested and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison and was released on parole in 2017.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, O.J. was indeed in a cell next to Erik in a Los Angeles prison. The publication reported that Erik and O.J. had several conversations over a period of 10 days. Robert Rand, author of the book «The Menendez Murders», - revealed more details about their relationship to the publication.
«I remember Erik telling me that O.J. was very friendly with all the deputies, and all the deputies, you know, were coming with autographs», - Rand told THR. «They were used to having celebrities like O.J. in their support. So Erik would call me every night, giving me updates, 'Today this happened or that.' But I got the impression that O.J. really valued the friendship and advice from Erik».
Robert also claimed in his book that Lyle also talked to O.J. in prison and gave him advice on choosing a defense team.
«O.J. and Lyle Menendez spent many hours in the prison attorney room, waiting for their lawyers or material witnesses», - the writer wrote. «Over 100 hours of contact between the two inmates, these two high-profile inmates openly talked and exchanged dozens of letters. Lyle advised O.J. to consider a plea deal, and O.J. briefly considered it — according to Lyle, but later told Menendez that he couldn’t do it because it would ruin his reputation, and he would never be able to work again».
O.J. passed away at the age of 76 in April 2024.
The Menendez brothers are currently in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Lyle was transferred there in 2018, and the brothers were reunited in the same housing unit that year, marking the first time they had seen each other since their conviction in 1996.
In October 2024, it was announced that Lyle and Erik would have a new court hearing. This hearing opened the door for a new sentence or even a review of the case. On October 24, former Los Angeles prosecutor George Gascon officially recommended a review of their sentence and the possibility of parole. However, Gascon was ousted in the elections by Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, who will take office on December 2. Hochman stated that he would need time to review the case documentation before making a decision on the sentence review.
The hearing, originally scheduled for December 11, was postponed to January 30, 2025. On November 25, the judge
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