Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing
There's been a major update regarding the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez which could see them freed from prison after 35 years behind bars has been released.
The Menendez brothers were convicted of the murders of their parents, Kitty and José Menendez, in Beverly Hills back in 1989.
They are now serving life sentences without the possibility of parole and claim to this day that the killings stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents.
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And now, after new evidence emerged that could support the Menendez brothers' sexual abuse claims and lead to retrial, Erik's daughter, Talia, has spoken out.
Lyle and Erik Menendez have filed a habeas corpus petition, a legal process which determines whether or not someone's imprisonment is lawful, which could potentially see them walk free.
Why is she speaking out?
Talia explained that 'within 60 days', the family will hear back from the LA County District Attorney office 'regarding their decision for Erik's and Lyle's appeal for freedom filed in May last year'.
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Pointing to the new evidence, she continued: "As everyone knows, there was new evidence proving the abuse endured after decades of not being believed and that evidence had been excluded from the retrial.
"I'm praying the DA/judge has compassion not only for what my dad and uncle endured but also the fact that all of us family wants them home.
"Almost 35 years is enough time locked away. They have spent more time incarcerated than alive in the real world. Let that sink in. Set them free!"
Following Talia's statements, many people following the high-profile case were keen to know more about her and her mother - so here's some of the most significant things you need to do about her.
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Who is Talia?
According to an Instagram post shared back in 2020, Talia explained: "I am getting a lot of questions about Erik not having a daughter. He does not have a biological daughter but he does have me."
She recalled that back in the 'late 80s', she and her mother watched Erik and Lyle’s court case on court TV.
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This prompted her mother to write a letter to Erik 'explaining the sympathy she had for them' and he wrote back two months later.
Who is Talia's mum?
Erik married his wife Tammi after she first made contact to him while he was behind bars in 1993.
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Tammi was actually married to another man, Chuck, at this time and the two had Talia together.
Devastatingly, Tammi had reason to believe Chuck was sexually assaulting their daughter. Chuck then turned himself into the police and committed suicide two days later when Talia was 10-months-old in 1996.
On her Instagram account, Talia explained that Tammi and Erik 'became pen pals' before adding that her biological father was 'fully aware and actually thought it was pretty cool that a guy on TV wrote back my mum' who she describes as a 'small town girl'.
When did Tammi and Erik get married?
Talia continued to explain that 'a while after my real father had passed', her mum flew to California to visit Erik for the very first time, noting that 'the rest was history'.
Tammi then moved to California from Minnesota along with Talia, which is when she visited Erik for the first time at Folsom State Prison aged just two years old in 1997.
Tammi is Erik's first and only wife, and they've now been together more for more than 20 years.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Menendez Brothers, True Crime, Crime, News, US News
Rhiannon Ingle