Kitty Menendez Research Paper

Society in the 1900s viewed the Menendez case just as some spoiled kids who murdered their parents out of greed, but in today's society, views have changed. On August 20th, 1989, Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez were shot and killed in their Beverly Hills mansion by their sons Lyle and Erik Menendez. The brothers had forged a signature and managed to get their hands on a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun (Venegas 40). They shot Jose Menendez six times and Kitty Menendez ten times, leaving them fatal (Latson 2). The brothers had precisely planned every detail, from the 911 call to the alibis. They proceeded to spend their parents' money lavishly post-murders. Yet there was more to the story. When caught and held accountable for their actions in 1996,

From the point of view of Lyle Menendez, he stated, “There had to be a series of decisions she made not to tell what was happening. What kind of mother lets it happen?” (Townsend para. 7. The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afor There is a side that asserts the idea that Kitty did not do anything to the brothers, so the brothers had no real motive to murder her. However, that was the problem, she did nothing. Kitty had chosen to emotionally abandon her children, and manipulate them. During the trial, it was revealed that Jose Menendez was having multiple affairs with multiple women during his marriage with Kitty. Jose's most consuming affair was with a woman named Louise in 1978. Jose and Louise worked together in business and spent copious amounts of time together traveling. When Kitty found out, she threatened to commit suicide. (Pergament 6 - ). In the context of the abuse that the Menendez brothers were going through, the affairs that Jose Menendez was having were amplifying the neglect of the children. The hostile actions from one family member to another were one of the ripple effects. Instead of providing a nurturing and supportive environment, she had chosen to neglect the abuse that her children were experiencing, taking her anger towards her husband out on the children. Kitty could have applied for external help, but

The abuse that Jose Menendez was putting the brothers through could have been suppressed if Kitty, as a mother, had the guts and sense to put it to an end. The environment Kitty created wasn't the only reason the brothers had a reason for murder. Another reason the Menendez brothers do not deserve a life sentence without parole is the fact that their father was putting