The Menendez brothers' situation isn't an isolated incident that's been influenced by a true-crime documentary series.
The latest instance involves the contentious scenario of the siblings of Eric and Lyle Menendez, who were condemned and assigned to serve life sentences for the 1989 slaying of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, within their Beverly Hills mansion.
On a Thursday, prosecutors in Los Angeles disclosed that they are scrutinizing new evidence that emerged in their case, due for a hearing next month, such as a letter penned by Erik Menendez, now 53, that his attorneys assert corroborates claims of years of abuse endured by the brothers at the hands of their father.
In their petition for a review of the case filed a year ago, the brothers' attorneys also referred to the Peacock docuseries “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.” The series encompassed an interview with a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claimed in an affidavit under oath that he was sexually assaulted by Jose Menendez when he was approximately 14 years old.
The Menendez case saw renewed interest lately due to Ryan Murphy's Netflix dramatization of the murders in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Though the brothers denied the portrayal in the scripted series as inaccurate, it generated interest in their legal efforts by figures such as Kim Kardashian.
“Many people are now invested in the case, and it speaks to me about the power of television and what it can achieve. It can cast a light on something and illuminate hidden corners,” Murphy said to Variety this week. “We gave them their chance to be heard in the court of public opinion.”
It's not the first time that pop culture projects may have instigated judicial advancements. Here are some other instances:
R. Kelly and “Surviving R. Kelly”
The accomplished singer was acquitted in 2008 of charges associated with child pornography following the emergence of a tape showing him having sex with a 14-year-old girl. Nevertheless, conversations about Kelly and his alleged sexual misconduct persisted.
Some of those stories were brought to light in January 2019 through “Surviving R. Kelly,” a compelling, multi-episode docuseries in which various women shared claims of abuse at the hands of Kelly, whom he denied.
Just a few months afterward, in July 2019, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois submitted a 13-count indictment that included child pornography and obstruction of justice charges against Kelly. He was also charged with sex trafficking in New York and attempting to influence a case in Atlanta in a five-count indictment from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. In August of 2019, Kelly was charged with engaging in prostitution with a person under 18 in Minnesota in relation to an alleged incident that occurred in July 2001 at a promotional event.
Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges
The response to “Surviving R. Kelly” was overwhelming, and a second season with additional allegations aired in January 2020.
Kelly was convicted of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in 2021 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The disgraced R&B singer was also found guilty of charges of child pornography and enticement of a minor. He received a separate 20-year prison sentence.
Steve Avery, Brendan Dassey and “Making a Murder”
The disappearance and subsequent discovery of the death of 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach in October 2005 would probably have remained a local news story in Wisconsin had it not been for Netflix.
The streaming giant's 2015 docuseries “Making a Murderer” narrated the story of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, who were arrested and convicted of Halbach's murder.
The 10-episode series was widely popular, leading to multiple online forums where viewers discussed the crime and shared their own theories and interpretations of the evidence.
A second season, titled “Making a Murderer: Part 2,” premiered in 2018.
Both Avery and Dassey were sentenced to life in prison, but Dassey's conviction was overturned in 2016.
Prosecutors appealed and a federal appeals court later reinstated the conviction.
Avery has unsuccessfully filed multiple appeals and motions over the years.
Both men remain incarcerated.
Robert Durst and “The Jinx”
“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” is a true-crime series that received attention even as it was generating headlines.
Durst, an eccentric New York real estate heir, was arrested right before HBO (which is owned by CNN’s parent company) aired the show’s finale in March 2015.
The series investigated three cases Durst was connected to: the unsolved disappearance of Durst's wife, Kathie, in 1982; the 2000 execution-style murder of Durst's friend, writer Susan Berman; and the death and dismemberment of Durst's neighbor, Morris Black, in Galveston, Texas, the following year.
Durst claimed self-defense in the death of Black and was arrested for Berman's murder while the first season of the series was airing.
He was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Berman in 2021 and was sentenced to life without parole.
Durst was also indicted for his late wife’s death, but he died in January 2022.
In April 2024, HBO aired a second season of “The Jinx.”
The 2014 podcast, led by journalist Sarah Koenig, delved into the imprisonment of Adnan Syed for the 1999 slaying of Hae Min Lee, both of whom were high school seniors at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County.
This podcast broke podcasting records upon its launch, amassing over 300 million downloads, as per the program's creators. Syed had been serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment.
The surge of interest in the case, prompting scrutiny of Syed's legal representation, ultimately led to his conviction being overturned in September 2022.
This victory was celebrated by his supporters, but in August 2022, the Maryland Supreme Court decided to reverse the overturning due to procedural irregularities in the initial conviction being annulled.
At the moment, Syed continues to enjoy freedom while his case is being challenged in appeal.
The Menendez brothers' attorneys also mentioned the impact of entertainment on their case, specifically citing the Peacock docuseries "Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed" and Ryan Murphy's Netflix series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story." These projects brought renewed interest to their case and sparked conversations in the court of public opinion.
With the success of various true-crime series and podcasts, such as "Surviving R. Kelly," "Making a Murderer," and "Serial," these projects have also influenced legal proceedings. For instance, the Spotify podcast "Serial" about Adnan Syed's murder conviction led to a reversal of his conviction, but it was later overturned due to procedural irregularities, keeping Syed in freedom while awaiting another appeal.
