Kitty Menendez was a suburban housewife and mother who lived a seemingly perfect life in Beverly Hills, California. She had a successful husband, two handsome sons, and a luxurious mansion. But behind the facade of wealth and happiness, there was a dark and tragic story that ended with her brutal murder by her own children.
Early Life, Birthday, Parents And Marriage
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Kitty Menendez was born Mary Louise Andersen on October 14, 1941 (age:48 years when died), in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She was the youngest of four children of Charles and Mae Andersen, who owned an air conditioning and heating company. She had a troubled childhood, as her father was abusive and her parents divorced when she was young. She was sent to boarding school for a year, and then attended Oak Lawn Community High School, where she was involved in drama and other clubs.
Kitty met her future husband, Jose Menendez, at Southern Illinois University, where she studied communications and production. Jose was a Cuban immigrant who had fled his country after the revolution. He was three years younger than Kitty, but he was charming and ambitious. They eloped in New York City in 1963, despite the disapproval of both their families.
Jose pursued a career as a corporate executive, while Kitty Menendez quit her teaching job to become a full-time homemaker. They had two sons, Lyle, born in 1968, and Erik, born in 1970. The family moved around the country, living in New Jersey, New York, and California, as Jose climbed the ladder of success. He eventually became the president of Live Entertainment, a video distribution company.
Kitty Menendez Wiki/Bio
Name | Kitty Menendez |
---|---|
Birth name | Mary Louise Andersen |
Birth date | October 14, 1941 |
Birthplace | Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA |
Death date | August 20, 1989 |
Death place | Beverly Hills, California, USA |
Cause of death | Homicide by shotgun |
Ethnicity | White |
Nationality | American |
Religion | Unknown |
Occupation | Homemaker, former teacher |
Spouse | Jose Menendez (1964-1989) |
Children | Lyle Menendez, Erik Menendez |
Parents | Charles Andersen, Mae Andersen |
Siblings | Three older siblings |
Education | Southern Illinois University |
Social Links | IMBD- @nm0580036 Wikipedia- @Lyle_and_Erik_Men Homepage- Newsunzip |
Family Details
- Joan Vandermolen (sister)
- Milton Andersen (brother)
- Brian Andersen (brother)
- Maria Menendez (mother-in-law)
- Marta Cano (sister-in-law)
- Terry Baralt (sister-in-law)
- Carlos Baralt (brother-in-law)
- Andy Cano (nephew)
- Diane Vandermolen (niece)
About Her Sister
Kitty Menendez’s sister, Joan Vandermolen, shared some of her views and memories of her sister and her nephews in the media earlier. Here are some of the things she said:
- She supported Lyle and Erik during their trials and believed that they were abused by their father and neglected by their mother.
- She said that Kitty was a vivacious girl from the Midwest who married a monster and that she failed to protect her children from Jose’s wrath.
- She said that she was unsure if Kitty Menendez molested her sons, but she thought that she was aware of the abuse and complicit in it.
- She said that she forgave Lyle and Erik for murdering Kitty and Jose and that she loved them as her nephews.
- She said that she wanted the world to know what Jose was like, and what he did to his family.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5’ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Weight: Unknown
- Eye color: Blue
- Body measurements: Unknown
Net Worth
Net worth | $2 million |
Source of wealth | Inheritance from her husband, Jose Menendez |
Date of death | August 20, 1989 |
The Menendez Family’s Dark Secrets
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Kitty Menendez seemed to have everything she ever wanted, but she was unhappy and insecure. She suffered from depression, anxiety, and insomnia. She also had several health problems, including a benign brain tumor, a hysterectomy, and a drug addiction. She felt lonely and isolated, as Jose was often away on business trips or having affairs. She also had a strained relationship with her sons, who resented her for being passive and submissive to their father.
Lyle and Erik Menendez grew up in a privileged but dysfunctional environment. They attended elite private schools, played tennis, and enjoyed expensive hobbies. But they also faced constant pressure and criticism from their father, who had high expectations and strict rules for them. Jose was a domineering and abusive parent, who allegedly sexually molested both of his sons for years. He also controlled their finances, their careers, and their personal lives.
The brothers claimed that they lived in fear of their father, who threatened to kill them if they ever exposed his secrets. They also said that their mother was aware of the abuse, but did nothing to stop it or protect them. They felt betrayed and abandoned by both of their parents and developed a deep hatred and resentment towards them.
The Shocking Murders And Trials
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On August 20, 1989, Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez were watching TV in the den of their Beverly Hills home, when Lyle and Erik entered the room with 12-gauge shotguns and opened fire. Jose was shot in the back of the head, killing him instantly. She was shot in the leg, arm, chest, and face, leaving her unrecognizable. The brothers then staged the scene to look like a robbery gone wrong and called 911 to report the crime.
The police initially suspected that the murders were related to Jose’s business dealings, as he had many enemies and rivals in the industry. They also considered the possibility of a mafia hit, a drug deal gone bad, or a random act of violence. They did not suspect the sons, who appeared to be grief-stricken and cooperative. Lyle and Erik inherited their parents’ fortune, estimated at $14 million, and spent lavishly on cars, clothes, and vacations.
However, the investigation took a dramatic turn when Erik confessed the killings to his psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, in October 1989. He said that he and his brother had planned and executed the murders out of self-defense, as they feared that their father would kill them after they confronted him about the sexual abuse. Dr. Oziel secretly recorded the confession and later shared it with his mistress, Judalon Smyth, who then tipped off the police. The brothers were arrested in March 1990, and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The case became a media sensation, as the public was fascinated by the details of the crime and the lives of the wealthy and troubled family. The brothers were tried separately, with one jury for each brother. They pleaded not guilty, and their defense lawyers argued that they acted under the influence of battered child syndrome, a form of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by years of abuse. They also presented evidence of the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse that they endured from their father, and the neglect and complicity of their mother. They portrayed Kitty as a weak and unhappy woman, who drank, took drugs, and attempted suicide several times.
The prosecution, however, argued that the brothers killed their parents for money and greed and that they fabricated the abuse allegations to justify their actions. They also presented evidence of the brothers’ lavish spending spree after the murders, their inconsistent and contradictory statements, and their lack of remorse or guilt. They portrayed Kitty as a loving and devoted mother, who was unaware of the abuse and tried to protect her sons from their father’s wrath.
The trials lasted for six months and were televised nationally. The juries were shown graphic photos of the crime scene, the autopsy reports, the recorded confession, and the testimony of various witnesses, including Dr. Oziel, Smyth, family members, friends, and experts. The trials ended in January 1994, with both juries deadlocked, unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge declared a mistrial and ordered a retrial for both brothers.
The second trial began in October 1995 and was much different from the first one. The brothers were tried together, by a single jury, and the judge did not allow cameras in the courtroom. The defense lawyers toned down their emotional appeals and focused more on the legal aspects of the case. The prosecution also changed their strategy and emphasized more on the brutality and premeditation of the murders, and the lack of credibility and motive of the brothers.
The second trial lasted for four months, and ended in March 1996, with the jury finding the brothers guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The jury also found that the brothers had used special circumstances, such as lying in wait and multiple murders, which made them eligible for the death penalty. However, the jury spared them from the death penalty and recommended life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The judge accepted the recommendation, and sentenced the brothers to two consecutive life sentences each, in July 1996.
Kitty Menendez’s Legacy And Controversy
Kitty Menendez’s life and death have been the subject of much debate and controversy, as people have different opinions and perspectives on her role and responsibility in the family tragedy. Some people view her as a victim, who was killed by her sons, who were greedy and evil. They believe that she was a good mother, who loved her children and tried to do her best for them. They also believe that she was unaware of the abuse and that she was manipulated and betrayed by her husband and sons.
Other people view her as an accomplice, who was killed by her sons, who were traumatized and desperate. They believe that she was a bad mother, who neglected her children and failed to protect them from their father. They also believe that she was aware of the abuse and that she was complicit and enabling in it. They argue that she was partly responsible for the murders and that she deserved her fate.
Kitty Menendez’s story has been told and retold in various books, documentaries, movies, and TV shows, such as The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, and Menendez: Blood Brothers. Her story has also inspired and influenced other works of fiction, such as American Horror Story: Cult, The Sopranos, and The Cable Guy.
Kitty Menendez’s legacy remains a mystery, as there is no definitive answer or explanation for her actions and motivations. She was a complex and conflicted woman, who lived a life of contradictions and secrets. She was a wife and mother, who was killed by her husband and sons. She was a beauty queen and socialite, who was unhappy and insecure. She was a witness and participant, who was silent and passive.
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