Are they monsters? In the show ‘Monsters’ on Netflix, the Menendez brothers are portrayed as villains, especially Lyle, who committed a double-murder killing their parents 22 years ago. But is that the truth?

The Menendez family, once symbols of privilege and wealth, was about to become notorious for a crime that would shock the nation. Their case conveyed how long child abuse can go undetected and abuse toward boys is not taken seriously.

And so, Lyle and Erik Menendez were given a life sentence without parole for the murder of their parents, and the case still resonates with young people today while sparking discussions on justice and abuse. 

“I think the Menendez brothers should have got a decent amount of time, but not a lot, because of the abuse they endured,” freshman Caitlin Walker said. 

Several controversies arose because of the sentence the brothers received considering their deep trauma and lack of higher-level thinking.

“What they did wasn’t necessarily right, but it also wasn’t known at the same time. I’m happy everyone’s coming out with it again, and we’re learning more about it,” Walker said.

For many students, the case remains a story of moral complexity with debates on whether their punishment reflected their lives.

Additionally, some people share doubts on whether the brothers are being dishonest about their childhood abuse or not. 

“Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like they could be (lying) and I feel like it’s also very (likely) for them to be (telling the truth), because abuse does happen everywhere, so I don’t know,” junior Braeden Howard said.

The story of the Menendez brothers, as viewed by a new generation, shows that justice is not always black and white—and that even years later, some cases still need closure.

Numerous perspectives from the new generation question the criminal justice system, the role of gender in sentencing, and the balance between punishment and having empathy.