The infamous 1989 murders committed by the Menendez brothers are back in the spotlight with the release of the new Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” This true-crime drama, created by renowned showrunner Ryan Murphy, puts a highly dramatized spin on the shocking events that rocked Beverly Hills.
The series delves into the brutal killings of José and Kitty Menendez, portrayed by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny, who were murdered by their sons, Lyle and Erik, played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch. The story focuses on the events leading up to the murders, the ensuing police investigation, and the highly publicized trial that followed.
At the time of the murders, Lyle (then 21) and Erik (then 18) were living at home with their parents in their sprawling Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers claimed they acted in self-defense, citing years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father, José.
While the real-life Menendez mansion still stands today—and was recently sold for $17 million just before the release of the series—it does not appear in the Netflix show. Instead, the production team opted to film at a similar Mediterranean-style home, just a few miles away.
The Real Menendez Murder House
The actual Beverly Hills estate, where the tragic murders occurred, changed ownership for $17 million. Originally built in 1927, the 9,063-square-foot Mediterranean villa boasts seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a pool, game room, two-story guesthouse, and tennis court. The property, which sits on a half-acre, underwent renovations in 1984.
Despite some interior updates, the exterior of the home remains largely unchanged from the days when the Menendez family resided there. The mansion continues to attract attention, drawing tour buses and curious onlookers hoping to glimpse the infamous property from the street.
The House in Netflix’s “Monsters”
In place of the actual Menendez home, Netflix used a similar Mediterranean-style house from the same era, located in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. Built in 1925, this 6,800-square-foot residence, with its distinctive red-tile roof, was once commissioned by Charles Hollenbach, a sausage mogul from Chicago.
The property, with five bedrooms, five baths, a library, guest quarters, and more, has also served as a backdrop for other Hollywood productions, including the Paramount+ series “Why Women Kill”, where it doubled as a fictional Pasadena estate. The mansion, located in a gated community, last sold in 2001 for $2.25 million.