What Lyle Menendez actually wrote to brother Erik in letter detailing prison escape after arrest

Warning: this article discusses sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.

A letter written by Lyle Menendez to his brother Erik, whilst the pair were imprisoned on suspicion of murdering their parents in 1989 has resurfaced, after featuring in Netflix's latest drama recreation of their crime.

Now, viewers are comparing the details in both the real note and that of the supposedly elaborate escape plan that the pair are seen acting out in the show.

Who are Lyle and Erik Menendez?

For those out of the loop with Netflix's latest controversial hit, The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story centres on the real-life murder committed by the Beverly Hills brothers 30 years ago.

After being subjected to years of emotional, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their own father, prolific 'perfectionist' businessman José Menendez, Lyle and Erik orchestrated a plan to end their torment for good.

They launched the attack one night - murdering both their father and their mother Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez - whom they alleged knew about the abuse yet turned a blind eye - with a shotgun at close range at their home.

Despite the brothers initially claiming to have found their parents in such a state and accusing the mafia of having been behind it, a tape-recorded confession that Erik subsequently made to his therapist landed them behind bars.

The controversial nine-part true-crime recreation of the event - directed by Ryan Murphy - recounts the murders, as well as the televised court case that followed, which became a national sensation.

The brothers were convicted in 1994 (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)

The letter in the show

In the series, Lyle and Erik - played by acting newcomers Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch - are taken to jail to await their trial, where they are placed in cells beside one another.

One day Erik's cell is raided by officers, who discover a secret letter written by his brother hidden under his mattress, which details an elaborate plan to escape from the heavily-armed facility.

The series goes on to show a pretty comedic portrayal of the brothers' escape, which sees the pair donning wigs and jet-setting to a winter wonderland.

None of this happened, and the discovery of the letter actually saw Lyle being transferred to another prison block throughout the duration of the trial.

The letter was even used by the prosecution in the trial to serve as evidence of the boys' distorted perceptions of reality, as well as their willingness to commit crime.

The series shows the brothers escaping prison and undergoing surgery (Netflix)

What did the letter actually say?

The actual contents of the letter Lyle wrote differs slightly from that listed in the Netflix series - though, not by much.

In the show, Lyle can be hearing saying in a voiceover: "Erik, read this once then throw it away. These are some things I've been thinking about.

"I think Mark should drive the Porsche into the prison loading dock, then hop out, but leave the engine running.

"We'll jump into the car and head to the 110. See drawing below."

He continues: "Next, our appearances. I think we should get plastic surgery. We need facelifts, chin implants maybe, and of course, we need to change our hair.

"We'll need passports, visas, then we figure out where we're going.

"I think we head to Mark H's grandad's camp in Canada, just until the heat is off."

The actual letter - which was read aloud in court - did include several of these aspects, though it looks as though some were dramatised for effect.

"Change name," the real note began. "Change appearance. Plastic surgeon. Need silencer. Need finances. How transfer money? How communicate overseas?"

The pair have remained behind bars since 1989 (Los Angeles Times/Contributor/Getty)

The real note - which is understood to have been six pages long - also did contain detailed drawings of the California prison with notations about stairwells, and contained references about 'moving from the U.S. to Europe'.

Where are the brothers now?

Following a heartbreaking trial, Lyle and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The brothers were transferred to two separate California prisons, both having been considered maximum-security inmates, where they remained until 2018.

That year, they were reunited for the first time in decades after Lyle was moved to Erik's facility, where they are regularly visited by remaining family members who supported them during their appearances in court.

Last year, the brothers' lawyer filed a petition to vacate their convictions in light of two new pieces of evidences.