Erik & Lyle Menendez: Monsters, Victims, Both? | Body Language Analysis

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

I don't get why people find it weird that they didn't want to be caught and tried to spin a story, nobody wants to go to jail.

[@MadScience-u5f]

Nobody finds it weird but we find it very telling

[@Shanyahillhouse]

@@MadScience-u5fwho you know gonna turn themselves in for murder , when they could get away! They gonna stretch it until the cops arrest or charge them… They’er ain’t the first persons who committed a crime.

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

@@MadScience-u5f telling? in what way? We know they killed their parents, and they had good reason. If their dad knew that secret was coming out, or the possibility of it, a person like that would probably do anything to not let that become widely known. So I believe they thought their parents would take them out.

[@Dani-lc9hq]

Yeah I don't get that either, and the fact that Erik felt suicidal after which is why he ended up confessing to his therapist clearly shows he had a conscience, unlike the parents.

[@hayden8827]

Absolutely agree with you. Also if you have been through so much trauma its not easy to open up about it. They were also raised the majority of their lives to adjust to the facade to hide and not speak up. I can imagine plus what they have done they were also suffering from cptsd and controlled by fear and were just lost.

[@ericasmith8170]

Spoiled with things, is vastly different than being spoiled by love. I’m sure they would have preferred to be poor rather than sexually tortured by their father

[@buzzardbeatniks]

Also, they worked their asses off most of their childhood, they earned whatever material goods they got from their parents as far as I'm concerned.

[@gwenivererose]

@@ericasmith8170 another thing I think people don’t understand is that having things or being rich doesn’t necessarily mean you are spoiled. Being spoiled is an attitude, it’s being demanding, always wanting more, throwing fits, being entitled. I know two brothers who grew up rich and materially they received equal. One is spoiled and one is not. The unspoiled brother is content, never wants more, is an extremely hard worker and is very frugal with money.

[@doyoufeardeath666]

THIS

[@yeetyeetskrt5627]

I dont believe they were sexually abused. Lyle has been recorded saying that the sexual abuse is a story so they wouldn't be found guilty. It's used on a book

[@gwenivererose]

@@yeetyeetskrt5627 not true but nice try bud.

[@misse2013]

I hate that she asked if he's gay! WHY would that matter?! 🤬

[@dukey19941]

Barbara has shown the kind of person she was when she interviewed Corey Feldman. No respect for her.

[@pleaseverifyrecaptcha7757]

@@dukey19941I honestly wonder if she has autism and that’s why she’s so blunt and seemingly calloused in her interviews. I know journalists are meant to be pushy but she’s either ignorant or unaware

[@nevenagrue3023]

And you have to commend them for how they handle it! They seem very intelligent... she even makes them look nice, even if they are maybe not... I find it bad interviewing. Just my opinion.

[@anka0903]

yeah, and prosecutors suggestion that if he is gay he must've enjoy being abused, WTF. disgusting.

[@Ruscococo1]

​@@anka0903understand the time period...don't judge based on the world now.

[@angelabaird7135]

Man, listening to Barbara Walters here is painful. So rude, judgmental, and overflowing with judgment and hatership. Wrinkling her face dramatically when he said they were normal and repeatedly implying that they weren't traumatized just because they're well off financially. This reminds me of when she interviewed Britney Spears and was slut shaming her and demanding to know about her sex life and virginity. Just sickening.

[@merrywalsh2809]

Her interviews have not aged well.

[@Cove_Blue]

I never liked her and looking back on her interviews as an adult I now understand why.

[@nicolettebell5646]

Absolutely. She literally implied that nothing could have happened because they went on a shopping spree. Spending money doesn't prove that SA doesn't happen. Her implications were disgusting honestly.

[@jashley777]

Or when she interviewed Corey Feldman about the SA happening in Hollywood. She's a horrible person.

[@theoriginalbunnygirl]

I thought that was Diane Sawyers? In the Britney interview. Regardless she was so condescending.

[@Duchess-of-Camelot]

Lyle started to lose his hair starting at age 14 and wore a toupee at 19. Not normal. That says it all for me. I've believed them from the beginning.

[@MoonTemple]

Yea especially since you can tell baldness doesn't run in the family. Erik isn't bald and neither was their pos father. It was stress from being abused and molested

[@bartclam]

If it's stress it grows back , I knew a teen that was balding at 15 years old ​@@MoonTemple

[@MrFlapjackk]

@@bartclamit doesn’t always grow back especially if stress was prolonged over many years. The follicles can die.

[@thesunnyleo]

@@bartclamHe’s been in prison 35 years. He’s never had freedom. I’d say that’s stressful and at this point the follicles are dead.

[@riscoronis]

I’ll never get over the fact that Gypsy Rose is free but they’re locked up for 30+ years!!! Nov 26 can’t come soon enough

[@spiffy74]

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@skystanlake173]

Honestly though, for real.

[@MadScience-u5f]

They killed 2 people in cold blood

[@anne-marinecomarmond3737]

I've never compared the two cases, but that is a very interesting and imperative observation

[@notnormansmother3617]

1 Gypsy didn’t actually kill anyone, just asked someone to and helped plan it. These boys pulled the trigger. 2 Gypsy’s abuse was allowed in the trial as mitigation and the boys abuse wasn’t. 3 Huge stigmas still surround sec abuse of boys and was far worse then.

[@millyvice4423]

There are people out there who did way worse things than Lyle and Eric yet they only served a couple of years and are out now while these two should spent their whole lives in prison?

[@MadScience-u5f]

Doesn't matter because every case has different angles and circumstances

[@Breathefreemylove]

@@MadScience-u5fit does matter, it matters a lot. They should have gotten a few years of prison max

[@BlendedBarbieDoll]

Wealth envy created hate for these young men (at the time) they were seen as spoiled brats. Had they been poor or women, I believe the media would have reacted differently.

[@kyrakan6393]

They brutally murdered their parents. The father was shot 6 times with a shotgun and the mother was shot 10 times with it. Even if they claim it was from the abuse the brutality of the attack was over the top. Murder does deserve life in prison. There are many people that have suffered similar or worse abuse and don’t end up killing their abusers.

[@ODBee12]

⁠@@kyrakan6393 Many people don’t have a father that is a huge entertainment executive. That does make things a little bit different.

[@gwenivererose]

I hope my perspective can help your question about Erik’s response about how therapy has changed him. I relate to him so much emotionally and was abused as a child as well. Although he answered the question in a round about way I think the thought he was having was that he learned he wasn’t a horrible person. I know this may not seem like growth to people who may not understand his feelings he had towards himself. When you constantly think the worst of yourself and you’re filled with intense self hatred, learning that you’re not that monstrous image you have in your head is huge growth. It honestly never goes away though and you have to relearn it over and over again. Hope that helps 😊 Great video!

[@Dani-lc9hq]

🙏 So true, the shame you absorb from all the manipulation when you're the scapegoat is immense! I grew up with narcissistic abuse as well so I get it, thanks for pointing that out! 💙

[@merrygoround7557]

Thank you for this

[@lib.777]

It’s easy to label them as “spoiled brats” based of the fact that they come from a rich background. But there’s no amount of material things or money that could mend that abuse. Some people lack serious empathy when it comes to these two 💔

[@ceebee984]

I dont like this lady interviewing them, so rude, accusatory, aggressive…you can tell she personally doesn’t like them or personally doesn’t believe their plight and its really not appropriate for an interviewer to show such bias. Shes almost talking AT them instead of WITH them. Like shes trying to provoke them. Just annoying. They couldve gotten into such a deeper conversation if she just set her own feelings aside and spoke with them…..the trial is over lady no need to act like your an interrogator or prosecutor or whatever 🙄🙄

[@Beautyunder10Ca]

At that time Barbara Walters was considered the best at interviewing people but looking back she was exactly how you describe

[@hightopshannah]

Holy shit I think the only monster here is Barbara...

[@wellthisisinteresting4912]

Truly… she is definitely lacking any empathy

[@the_ferris_system8333]

The emotion that the brothers display in their testimonies, especially when talking about the abuse, is so raw and genuine that it just cannot be faked. I believe they were abused and I believe they shouldn't be imprisoned for the rest of their lives.

[@commonsense2680]

I agree 100 percent. When I finally saw the brothers' testimony during their trial, it was clear to me how much shame, hurt, and suffering they went through at the hands of their parents. You cannot fake that. And those of us who have suffered sexual abuse as children completely understand. My heart breaks for these boys, then to have to be in jail for life AFTER years of abuse is too much. Their trial was horrible. I wish to God they win the right to reconsideration. In jail all these years they have been model prisoners and helped others in jail, God bless them.

[@belladonna5904]

​@@commonsense2680sexual abuse is not an excuse to murder someone and then lie to police about it.

[@jiminjams52]

@@belladonna5904 i agree but u also gotta think that they were probably not thinking, were in a abnormal headspace, the time in which it happened (90s) etc. not making excuses just adding nuance

[@plissken94th57]

@@belladonna5904you probably say that because you’re probably one yourself

[@vanessita4138]

I agree. Set them free already 😢

[@trailerparkfarm9198]

I agree if they were sisters they’d be free…& I think they should be released

[@KeepNitReeel]

*Me too!*

[@melissadean6874]

Yes ma'am! They've served their time.

[@Snammgh]

..because of that?? U think they should be Released?? Why is this some kind of women vs men moment for everyone..

[@jamiemaclean7636]

​@@SnammghBecause that's exactly what it is

[@Snammgh]

@@jamiemaclean7636 mens world. More Power in creation,More responsibilty! So stupid even think like that. Going nowhere

[@Nicoletta13]

It's important to remember... tennis was NOT their ambition. They wanted to invest their time in swimming and soccer. It was Jose who pushed them to obsess and excell in .ltennis Yes they were wealthy but being showered with money and opulence was not to THEIR benefit as it was to Jose abd kitty maitaining an IMAGE.

[@NJItalianGal747]

Yes

[@danidynamite2]

With regards to Eric's shift, I didn't take it as forced emotion. It looked genuine to me and like he really wanted to get it across. And what confirms that for me is that it was only about his mother. He wasn't talking about guilt over killing both his parents, he was talking about how he had told his mother he loved her and couldn't have pictured ever hurting or killing her. That's, to me, what makes it genuine. Because his father was left out of that narrative. Because he doesn't regret killing his father. Which lines up with his father potentially SAing them.

[@Dark_heart888]

Is disgusting the way Barbara Walters conducts this interview there's no way this will be acceptable in 2024 everyone will cancell her in a minute.

[@Mariabea63]

Bro she’s literally dead

[@Dark_heart888]

@@Mariabea63 I know that 🙄I'm talking about her quiestions and the way the interview was conducted.

[@sharylanne7738]

It was a different time. Early 90s. Calm down

[@jenniferbyrne4567]

They saved some other children from getting abused, I’m certain of that! That “father” should have gotten life in prison not them. Guaranteed he would have only gotten a couple of years but even that’s unlikely.

[@veec5588]

I believe that they are heroes. Imagine how many more boys could have been abused by their father in the years to come. Especially with the dawn of the internet age. Also they are heroes in exposing and helping male victims of abuse. And calling attention to abuse overall.

[@plissken94th57]

Especially given that he molested all the boys in the band menudo, says a lot about their dad

[@brooke9188]

They don’t need to be retried. There was more than enough evidence in the first trial. They need to be let go

[@pommiebears]

If they just “let them go” they can sue them for millions. That’s why the justice system is resentencing them. They will still be guilty and deserving of sentence, but once let go, which they will be, they’ll not be able to sue for wrongful imprisonment. Unfortunately, not everything is as easy as you believe. Red tape and covering the state of Californias a$$.

[@dreaj1077]

100% agree.

[@Leesha0585]

Great video as usual. Even before everyone started talking about this case recently, I always thought that they needed a retrial

[@sharylanne7738]

No you didnt

[@lansesteiner3563]

That homosexual question makes my blood boil. How dare her!? Totally irrelevant to anything about the case. And her body language & deliverance about it was throwing shame & Judgement at Erik. Rude as fuck and uncalled for.

[@pommiebears]

Different time. Today, it’s a disgrace of a question. Back then….it was “inquiring minds want to know” and “oh….you’re one of THOSE?” And, it should be relieving that times have definitely changed. I don’t know anyone who is bothered by if someone is gay, straight, bi, etc.

[@nillyk5671]

Barbara Walters was a whole clown. I never liked her. Also, I don't understand why it keeps being mentioned that they spent a lot of money after the murders. They were used to spending that much money, their expenses didn't vary from what their usual spending was. It might seem like a lot of money to us but to them, it was the norm, not only to them but to their whole family. And they didn't simply take or steal that money. Their uncle was the administrator of their state and he allowed it. The family was ok with it. People should stop using this as if it was the main reason to kill their parents.

[@merrywalsh2809]

I disagree. That was not their normal spending. 1/10th of the estate in less than a year.

[@evat514]

@@merrywalsh2809100%. That spending and living their best lives show a complete lack of remorse.

[@wellthisisinteresting4912]

This case is on my mind from the time I wake up to when I go to sleep. I just cannot get over the injustice and sadness of it all. Their childhoods stolen by two demons that terrorised them to the point of desperation, then having to reveal all of the devastating and embarrassing details of their abuse, only to be thrown in prison and be separated. All because the media immediately painted them as monsters, and because the male jurors, judge and prosecution did not WANT to believe and see evidence of abuse. If they do not get time served/ a resentencing, I don’t know how I’ll be able to go on. This case means so much to so many people that were victims.

[@patricianeri3375]

Sou do Brasil, pensei q fosse só comigo, eu tb não paro de pensar neste caso..acordo e durmo pensando neles...uma tristeza enorme...não vejo a hora disso tudo chegar ao fim e os irmaos serem livres

[@MadScience-u5f]

The abuse is still circumstancial

[@RochelleLong924]

I bet if they were girls they would have only served a couple years

[@BlendedBarbieDoll]

@@MadScience-u5fthere are nude photos of the boys that are found. Other men have claims Jose sA’d them and the type of details that were given during the first trial are unimaginable. Have you heard them? Trying to thin your taste buds so you can’t taste your father’s semen? Those men were abused.

[@LRLC1123]

​@@RochelleLong924And that would be because most girls couldn't physically defend themselves against a big angry man.

[@HeavenlyiceDream]

even when i was younger (just leaving high school when this happened) i felt their sentence was ridiculous. It always felt like a rather extreme self defense measure. IT was wrong, very wrong, but I understood the reasoning. Their sentence length though is beyond what should have been done

[@MadScience-u5f]

2 people were savagely murdered in cold blood hopefully this gives you some perspective

[@jamiemaclean7636]

​@@MadScience-u5f2 people were savagely abused for years, hopefully this gives you some perspective

[@michellemorrison9663]

So. A lot of people forget something very important when calling these two "spoiled" just because of their money, and that is their background. They come from a hispanic/ Latino background, and things are done differently in such households. I am one, and I also grew up in a wealthy environment with parents who thankfully could provide more than the average citizen in my country. I am now in the US with an American husband, and I constantly complain about the privilege and spoiled lifestyle that the AVERAGE American leads. Why? Our families are strict regardless of economic background. Sure, we have some money families that might fit the description, but if you have money, the motto is: "There better be nobody talking sh*t about us." Children grow with a burden rather than enjoying a privileged lifestyle. Especially back then (fear of "what others would say" aka: 'que va a decir la otra persona') I can assure you that tennis was not just a hobby, but rather an extracurricular activity in which Jose could brag about his kids with other people. Hence why, he was so strict about practice. This takes away much of the pleasure. Needless to say, I am not surprised in their decision on destroying the fortune. Plus, depressive attacks can come with insane amounts of spending. They wanted that freedom, no more ab*se, no more boundaries, no more control over what they could do or in what they could spend. It is extremely sad given that these cases create so much damage in people, and the way the jury treated these two added to that trauma. Every single one of the mistakes they made is consistent with their PTSD and how they couldn't even deal with their emotions and the freedom they had earned out of a crime. Plus, I mentioned depression and PTSD (hypothetically) if they had symptoms, they could develop or trigger other disorders or other reactions which are also triggered by spending. I know I'm getting into maniac episodes when I'm over spending and go above my limits, I've learned to navigate my disorder. But it's an example. It all started with a "simple depression." It is disturbing what they went through, but it is sickening what the justice system did to them. While yes, they had to still serve time for the crime, condemn them for a lifetime, for self-defense and invalidating this claim just by being men is outrageous and horrifying.

[@veec5588]

Well said. So true about the overspending as a therapy. People do it every day to feel better about themselves. Great perspective on the Latino culture. They were finally free to make their own decisions, and they tried to self soothe through shopping. The family said they could finally buy what they wanted. Not what jose wanted them to buy. Freedom.

[@Dani-lc9hq]

Apparently many people think you only go shopping when you're happy?! Makes no sense.

[@britt182x]

I personally do less when I’m happy and more when I’m stressed or upset. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@doyoufeardeath666]

@@britt182x Same! I struggle with even caring about if I should or shouldn't buy something I want when I'm distressed.

[@cookiiie24]

Its no proove, but still weird

[@bassasababarebelbeans5657]

Witnesses gave so much evidence that indicated long-term abuse, yet they were still mocked and punished severely without any compassion.

[@inblackamericaradio5409]

2 witnesses also said the boys wanted them to lie and say they were “victims” of the father

[@neandertalheroo]

14:15 there is just NO freaking way to think they're actors if people had seen the trial vids, I mean no way! One must be super delusional not to see they're being geunine there.

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

or just have lived a perfect life with no trauma or no sadness, because that's the only way I think someone can't believe them.

[@neandertalheroo]

@@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare I think it's just ignorance. And lack of basic info about human psychology, and lack of basic human emotions maybe, i dunno, I find it weird those who keep defending that pedo father and keep saying they're faking. They must have earned a few Oscars so far then.

[@BlendedBarbieDoll]

Exactly!

[@ellerenee7648]

Exactly what I was thinking also!!

[@applego6533]

It's disgusting the way people were back then. So disgusting . I was an a used child back then and no one cared. Thr brothers did tell people but no one did anything back then. People knew I was abused to

[@kimmyfreak200]

as erik recently said, it was the era of don't ask don't tell.. a culture of Silence... it's an abusers wet dream. The fact that the law states u can't kill your abuser, and every abuser watching the trial in 1993 rejoiced knowing they can get away with it and that no one will believe them anyway. And when u do come out with it and tell police they mock u, and u become a laughing stock of the town and police department. I reported my R. incident, was treated horrifically by the ER doctor an the cops and detective, and they assigned a male victims advocate, and it took me 2 weeks to have the courage to pick up the phone to call this "advocate" due to trust issues, and he didn't return my call. I went into RAGE MODE after that. I had no support from anyone. It's like the songs SILENCE by sarah Mclachlin and Damaged by plumb. And one of the most disturbing songs is by Korn called DADDY makes me think of erik. J.D. lost control of his emotions in studio whilst recording it, u can even hear it when he says I'M YOUR SON, the son part u can hear him fighting the tears, and at the very end when he is screaming and sobbing was all genuine. The band didn't know what to do so kept playing. It's heartbreaking. Blows my mind how people defend child abusers and say their life has value and they deserve respect and empathy...lol clearly those who say that have never been abused and to think they deserve second chances too wtf

[@doyoufeardeath666]

It truly is disgusting! Sadly this was my experience as well.. people who saw it either ignored it or just cut contact with my abusers, leaving me alone with them without support.

[@veec5588]

Some people have the same disgusting attitude even today

[@loum73]

And that is why Barbara's little bit of ignorance is why i cringe every time I see her ever since her Britney interview. It's prolly her fault they were separated. Ok, prolly not. But I'm sure they went to her for some sort of understanding and to be able to speak their sides without realizing who Barbara really is.

[@lunagal]

I was very involved during the trials and knew that case inside out. I never in s million years thought they’d get out especially in 2005 when their appeals ran out. Today the DA recommended resentencing and is giving their case to a judge so the judge can decide. End of November, hopefully we’ll know. Because of L&E’s prison record, I think they’ll be resentenced to Murder WITH possible parole. Because they were jailed so young, they meet some criteria that could have them released with time served. I’m happy for them and their family who’ve supported them because they knew Jose was a horrible abusive person and knew that Kitty didn’t protect her kids.

[@KeepNitReeel]

These poor kids (adults now) went thru some *horrific abuse* & I was a young kid when it happened..... I remember watching one of them testify in court & I've never heard such gut wretching *BELIEVABLE* testimony, their father & mother *worshiped money,* they thought they should too.... I feel like they were dealt a horrible hand in life & they shouldn't be in prison these days (personally I don't think they should've ever been!) Justice was *not found* for these poor men. I feel this in *my heart,* its not like I know them or anyone they know, I've just always had the intuition they were 💯 abused! 😠💔

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

technically they would need some time in jail/prison because they did end someone's life, but yeah, I believe they were scared for their life, so that one type of sentence is what they should have gotten, they'd already be out by now then. Erik is the one that makes me feel the strongest, he breaks my heart! And I usually have very low empathy, but the way he cries is similar to how I cry at times, and so I can relate, and it's 100% real emotions. Erik has such childlike expressions.

[@spiffy74]

@@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare well said!

[@chanceytheyoungin]

Their testimonies were so hard to listen to. Hearing the things they went through.. it’s sickening. Justice for Erik and Lyle. 🖤

[@elizabird6516]

I always believed them. Agree with everything you wrote.

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

I hate Barbra, she is stressing me out, she sounds so mean and like she's putting them down, I really do not like her tone of voice, it makes me feel so bad for Erik, like Lyle he doesn't seem too bothered but they way she talks to Erik like that is stressing me out.

[@spiffy74]

She was a ruthless interviewer. She ALWAYS overstepped the boundaries. Look at her interview w/Britney Spears, Ricky Martin & oh shoot there was someone else...UGH, idr atm, but the two I listed especially - that woman was just so crass...I couldn't stand her.

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

@@spiffy74 I'm not from the US, so I don't know much about her, but yeah, she really has no empathy at least not for this interview. I wanna give Erik a hug there, although I don't like hugging people, but watching that it makes me want to just hug him.

[@KourttneyL]

How does Barbara think this way? like seriously. She needs to be unbiased if she’s going to do interviews… someone teach this woman!

[@merrywalsh2809]

She’s dead.

[@doyoufeardeath666]

@@merrywalsh2809 That kinda made me laugh, so morbid.

[@pommiebears]

Different times. And yes….shes dead now, so no one is teaching her anything lol.

[@Mariabea63]

She’s not alive anymore but her thinking shouldn’t be shocking for that time period. Everyone was against the Menendez brothers back then, a small minority wanted them released

[@KourttneyL]

@@merrywalsh2809 I didn’t know that. I’m young. 🤣

[@TBoss-xb6cl]

I do feel Erik carry’s a lot of guilt.

[@katgarcia111]

They didn't have another choice but kill their parent, at least in their mind, they got to the point that the father knew he was losing control over them and probably he told horrible threats to them and they saw each other as enemies and that's why they desided to act first, the father create this " Monsters" and he got what he deserves sorry to say, I feel all that happened was parents fault, (excuse my english)

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

if I had done what they did because of what has happened to them, and someone called me evil for that, I would have thought "oh you think that was evil?? if only you knew what real evil is (meaning what they went through)" so I would be staring at the person who'd asked me a question like that as well.

[@sherrykhelawan3047]

My reaction would be the exact same too because I would feel as if I'm being judged for my action without the person taking into consideration of how much worse the situation that provoked my reaction was

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

@@sherrykhelawan3047 exactly! I swear some people just don't wanna try and understand anyone, I hate judgmental people. Maybe if the jury and judge had been more open minded they could have really opened their eyes to what was in front of them, and sentenced them way differently, because those parents -- they had it coming, they were truly evil.

[@michelleflores8072]

Lets let them swap places release them and put gypsy rose back in. Gypsy has not an ounce of guilt she gets the red carpet treatment for taking advantage of a guy with autism and unalive her mom then lies about having unnecessary medical care she is someome I worry about being free once she dont get her way who knows what she gonna do. Thats just my opinion though.

[@skystanlake173]

They aren't dangerous to society. Let them be free

[@Edgeley]

Are You kidding? Both have high levels of psychopathic Traits and yes I have trained in diagnosis of this

[@Cove_Blue]

​@@Edgeley That's just not true at all

[@doyoufeardeath666]

@@Edgeley If you truly did you'd know how incredibly unethical it is to diagnose from afar.

[@evat514]

@@Edgeleythank you for saying this. They absolutely are psychopaths. If anybody knows anything about psychopaths - they are often the result of childhood abuse. As someone who has high levels of empathy, I naturally tune in to the emotions of others and there is absolutely nothing with these two. Zero emotion. When they speak, they always gaze up to the right which is what we do when we are creating a story or lying. The fact that the one comment made is that they would not “act” emotional expression - that’s exactly what psychopaths do - they are phenomenal actors and having a mother who was overtly emotional - hello alcoholism - they absolutely do know how to represent emotions. There are too many people giving “professional opinions” yet know absolutely nothing about human psychology. The real human psychology not pop science. As someone who has been abused and has grown up around narcissism, psychopaths, sociopaths the works, the fact that these traits are so difficult for people to identify in characters like these two and Gypsy Rose too, absolutely terrifies me. People are so easily manipulated and here the court of public opinion is championing these two getting freedom and I have no doubt they will. For that reason alone and because psychopaths invariably run most, if not all, aspects of society. If you can take a life in the way that they did - you have zero empathy. Zero humanity. How they lived out their days following their crime - zero remorse. Having lived through the abuse I have, at no point have I ever wanted to kill my abusers. Not once. What people also forget is that, abused people abuse people. Not excusing their parents behaviour by any means - they deserved to go to prison. But too many people are only focusing on one aspect of this and therefore miss the picture in its entirety. 🙏

[@jenniferperez1473]

Barbara is unbearable in this interview

[@mortisure4081]

Ah you’ve changed your intro since I’ve lease seen you! Glad to see you back on my algorithm!

[@ObserveYouTube]

Welcome back 😁

[@blackmagicwoman1493]

Why do most people fail to mention that Kitty SA Lyle too.

[@DaughterofAslan16]

I hate how that’s always just glossed over or not mentioned at all!

[@spiffy74]

I'd been wondering abt that one thing that the judge decided did not fit for these guys b/c they weren't women - how now that its been brought more to light that men are abused too, that they could either be retried again w/all the abuse information re-added to the case, or released due to how they'd been treated by their father, felt no protection from their mother, so they did what they THOUGHT was the only way out of the situation. Yeah, the crazy money spending could be seen/was seen as suspicious but honestly - you look at how some ppl who're abused will over-eat, over-spend, take drugs...that over spending was a soothing mechanism for them...they finally had freedom from a monster and had no other way to use that outlet. Am I saying murdering ppl is right? No. But I do understand why they did what they did, & how they coped. I think they should be released, w/as much access to therapy & help & rehabilitation outside of prison that they can get.

[@veec5588]

I said the same thing about how the overspending was a self soothing and freedom mechanism. They were finally free and they self soothe with spending. I loved how you showed other ways people cope that is not healthy.

[@tempusthespoon3118]

I watched monsters thought they lied, watched the documentary and believed them.

[@doyoufeardeath666]

That show was truly made in incredibly poor taste, but so was the first season about Dahmer. I don't want to support that director anymore honestly.

[@LINDAAIELLO-i2m]

Barbara Walters would never be famous in today's world: very rude, insensitive 😢

[@constanzasaucedo7045]

11:05 interesting they didn't include on the actual interview the bit where erik says he would've ended his life if it wasn't for lyle, that if lyle chose to end his life he would end his own the very next day (there's the clip look it up) with that answer i think it was more clear that they were trying to convince the authorities to let them be together

[@life_aftersobriety]

Good analysis, I would argue that the reason they had a lot of indecisive nonverbal body language during the questions about avoiding confessing to the crime when it happened. Is because they highly regret doing it and committed the murder in complete rage and fear. Going back and reliving it and saying "IF I could go back, I believe I would tell the police I did it". They didn't believe the "secrets" of their family would come out, they didn't believe they would have to kill their father and mother. there's always a lot of strange body language in their retelling of what happened and most would see it as no remorse but it seems like relief to me. They might have even wanted to scare their parents and one of them started shooting instead. All I know is one of them had more rage. I believe they did fear for their lives though, you don't just buy a shotgun for no reason. And no one will ever know what really happened that night, but they are telling the truth about the abuse.

[@p1p1pupu]

Exactly. You don’t just make the jump from having an argument with your parents to buying a gun and killing your parents if you haven’t been primed to go into fight or flight. If it was about money, wouldn’t they plan it for longer? Everyone seems to make them out as cold and calculated killers when they were just paranoid victims (obviously they covered it up, bc who would wanna get caught given the severity of the crime)

[@Youtubbyface14]

I’m a Counsellor (Therapist) and I was so surprised to hear you can’t share about a murd3r. Confidentiality doesn’t cover money laundering, acts of terr0rism, drug trafficking, child protection and if you feel the client is a serious risk to themselves or others.

[@Tiger-111]

How could they have “ normalcy “ with their upbringing?

[@asyntheticsound]

their story hasn't changed in 31 years, and it's insane that people question their horrific testimonies in 1993. i'm hoping that they can begin a new life very soon!

[@lulu-fp7im]

Thank you for doing them. i know its a sensitive subject, but i like when you do crime analysis. This is very hard to watch, though

[@tarashelton493]

This needs to be retried. At first I thought they were brats, but after reading more about this I’m not so sure if that’s the best description of them. What if what they say is true? That would mean that the level of abuse was so much that they really didn’t think they could ever leave and get away from the father. They were in a mental prison and then if they truly believed their parents were going to kill them then what would anyone do?! They don’t think like you or I would that had a great family life with terrific parents. They were like trapped rats! If all they say is true then who wouldn’t have done what they did? What if they were completely terrified? I also think they were embarrassed about the abuse the father did to them. One of them said that if they had to go to jail and the only way out was to admit the sexual abuse then they would rather just go to prison. It was embarrassing.

[@randomlyraving3021]

I adore your vids! Keep up the incredible work, I wonder about you maybe analysing Leslie Abramson? Unless you already have

[@yellowmoon4564]

2 trial was EVIL

[@nevenagrue3023]

Being rich does not exclude them from being victims of severe abuse. Tell me how can you be spoiled and be abused the way they say they were? Money is such a great mask for ppl to hide their violence as we can see these days no one is asking a lot when you are rich it is sort of taken care of and assumed to be happy and perfect. But it is very much not! No one can say if they are spinning the moment and trying to get out of what they did. Judging by the nonverbal analysis that I saw here and in other places they are very congruent with the story... very unusual, my instinct would say otherwise....

[@LituanaCorazonmexicano0508]

Oooh! I’m ready for this!

[@nemofish3504]

The stark contrast of treatment between them and Gypsy Rose is crazy

[@elizabird6516]

I watched the first trial when it aired on Court Tv and I always believed Lyle and Erik. There were so many factors stacked against them including, as you point out, misogyny, homophobia, lack of understanding of sexual abuse of males, etc. But there was never a doubt in my mind that they were horrifically abused by their father and their mother was complicit, as well as being an abuser herself. They deserve freedom.

[@inblackamericaradio5409]

What phobia fits the witness/friend saying they wanted them to lie about their father SA’ing them? Is that dadphobia or parentphobic?

[@Cove_Blue]

I always felt guilty for so long for feeling sympathy for them because of people saying ignorant things like Barbara Walters did. And I was a child when the murders occurred. I don't think the year is a good excuse for ignorance, anymore. I guess maybe I just believed them and these other people didn't. Trauma sees trauma, I guess.

[@jashley777]

I'm glad we understand abuse victims better now, as well as psychology of self medicating of trauma. I never thought the boys buying things was indicative of murder for money. It was a trauma response.

[@enchanteddragonfly8335]

She’s a horrible interviewer .. she should be unbiased. She’d get in trouble for it today . I think they should have gone to prison but not without parole .. it’s time for them to come out now They’ve been in over 30 years

[@Dani-lc9hq]

15:45 thank you for pointing out what so many people don't seem to consider in their short sightedness! The boys at that time and especially with that father sure as hell weren't raised to believe they could use emotions or playing victim to gain sympathy or get their way, quite the opposite.

[@TrinityJC]

This is one of the points that I find quite confusing about the reactions to this case. It's very clear from the testimony of both brothers that they were trying their best to be stoic and NOT show emotion to the extent that they could have. They came across as very emotionally constipated, and ashamed when they lost their composure, which is definitely in keeping with the type of upbringing which they (and their family members, teachers, and coaches) attested to. Therefore, the amount of mockery they received for "overacting" or being melodramatic is extremely ironic. As Leslie Abramson mentioned in her closing, Erik was known, his entire life, for crying easily and being extremely emotionally fragile. The fact that that he was able to go through ten days on the stand while keeping his composure for the vast majority shows just how hard he fought NOT to break down. The only times he full on sobbed were when he was actually sitting at the table with his council and was out of sight of the jury. If he was known to be a crier, the fact that he held back is indicative of how much he did NOT want to go there while on the stand, not to mention while on national television. And with Lyle, it was quite clear how he fought to keep the tears back, and it's substantially harder to convincingly try NOT to cry than to actually just cry. I've seen a couple of the older reenactments of this case, and it's quite amusing how the actors often attempted to cry in a showy, performative fashion when that was the exact opposite of what was going on in the courtroom.

[@Dani-lc9hq]

@@TrinityJC Exactly!! It's so easy to see when someone is trying to hold back tears vs. someone trying to push them out when faking, that's the easiest way to tell, there are always giveaways but this was so raw and real! Erik actually took Xanax before the trial, he testified this at the beginning.

[@cosmicshy637]

So interested to see this! Thank you! ❤

[@MoonTemple]

They tend to seem like emotionless but when you're someone who's been abused most of your life you learn to be like that. I'm like that. People think you're cold but no you're just traumatized

[@kimmyfreak200]

please consider doing DR OZIEL..the part where he claimed under oath lyle threatened to kill him, and as Dr. G explained, but didn't analyze the non verbal, his testimony made no sense both as a professional therapist and as a human/civilian. No one has tried reading dr sleaziel's body language.. i mean dr oziel lol but yah he imo showed deception, or possible deception.. he was a self admitted liar, I and A LOT of other people are dying to see dr oziel's body language analysis

[@emiliavicquery1342]

There is an analysis of Dr Oziel on KZbin. I think by Dr. G explains. It's pretty on point.

[@kimmyfreak200]

@@emiliavicquery1342 just his words..not non verbal body language unless he did another video?

[@emiliavicquery1342]

@@kimmyfreak200 the guy oozes sleaziness, Oziel so maybe it was moot to do body language. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@sofiacornejo1056]

Logan. Good job, I like your presentation of this case.

[@Hey_Jamie]

People saying they should have never been in prison at all are delusional. You can’t just maliciously murder two people without paying consequences. Should it be life? No, not in my opinion. But it wasn’t up to me.

[@kyrakan6393]

I agree! They should still face their crimes considering how brutal the attacks were. Crimes require consequences.

[@Edgeley]

Exactly! Too much emotion on tiktok- court is v different and they were convicted correctly

[@doyoufeardeath666]

Well a lot of the people who say that, from what I've seen, think they should have been in a psychiatric hospital instead of prison

[@Tiger-111]

I wonder if they weren’t from a privileged background how they’d have been conceived by the world? They are more than likely a product of abuse and severe disfunction, yet money seems to be largely behind their life sentences imho

[@inblackamericaradio5409]

They blew trial. That’s why happened. If they pled guilty they would’ve had a release date. They blew trial trying to get away with murder

[@cpmrealty]

Eric did turn himself in...He flew in from Israel. He confessed to his doctor, who was another piece of s t. Walters was disdain in this interview.

[@heathertapper-gq6pk]

Lyle was the one away then turned himself Eric told the dr

[@jessicamurphy8817]

When you interview someone, you interview them. Ask a question and then listen. That way you find out and won't be quite so lost. One person is not the public.

[@calimango7926]

I think that this video / trial requires a really important conversation regarding coping mechanisms. It's already been pointed out, but I want to reiterate the reality of the fact that no two people cope exactly the same. Some people shut down, some people display extreme emotion, and some people cope in ways that may not be easily understood or accepted by society. I'm still learning more about this case so I have no definitive opinion on guilt or innocence. But I do feel like excessive shopping (or retail therapy, as it's also called) can be a coping mechanism as well. I know that I, personally, often turn to shopping online or 'spoiling myself' with purchases as a way to distract myself when I'm struggling mentally. It's just something that I found interesting to note and I've really appreciated the conversations that I've seen regarding the diverse spectrum of coping mechanisms.

[@dreaj1077]

Gypsy Rose is out of prison. Lyle and Erik deserve to be released.

[@inblackamericaradio5409]

Two different cases 😂😂😂. Gypsy did what the menendez murderers didn’t do, Gypsy pled guilty and the menendez murderers lost at trial.

[@GrinGrim87]

​@@inblackamericaradio5409 Stick to the first line you said

[@foxtail1010]

Good morning, Mr. Observe!!! I have a video to watch this morning!! Yeah!!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Thanks For this! Keep up the good work ❤❤❤

[@maycatenhaaf22]

I kinda get your reaction about Lyle naming Anna but they also married in 1996 (the year of this interview) so I dont think it was that much of a secret anymore. In fact they married july 2 so just a few days after this interview

[@TrinityJC]

Also, she had already done televised interviews and had received a fair amount of media attention, which was her choice, years prior.

[@heathertapper-gq6pk]

Anna was Lyles first wife his wife's rebecca

[@pommiebears]

I spoiled my sons with love. It’ll shock no one, that my sons turned out to be exceptional human beings. We were poor. But, they only knew I love them. Still do. You can’t buy love, you can’t convey love by buying things. These men were shown little to no real love by either parent. One child m’rders their parents, it’s a bad child. TWO children m’rders their parents….its a bad family!

[@Pappamea81]

Good stuff mate!

[@Sara-hy7ku]

Well done analysis!

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

How were they spoiled, yes they had access to things other's might not have, but does that automatically make a person spoiled? So privileged people are automatically spoiled? Pretty sure their dad had very little leniency to give them.

[@cookiiie24]

What? They spend 700k in very litle time after they shotgunned 2 people

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

@@cookiiie24 so, you think they did that all the time? I don't think you know what spoiled means.

[@horrorhistory7342]

Most of that was on a restaurant that Lyle bought to run as his career and all their purchases were either approved or encouraged by family, including the two family members that were the most involved with the estate, their aunt marta and uncle Carlos.

[@Salee-ze7qt]

Most tragic case I have come across. The injustice is unbearable. And something is very off, it feels that male authority systems literally extended the abuse of sadistic father and insensitive media & society extended the humiliation BECAUSE they are victims and not threatening. This is unfortunately part of abuse and power dynamics which is very sickening to empathetic healthy people. Media and Institutions should be held accountable when they deliberatly lie and manipulate information to change puplic perception.

[@hremaddox]

Erik was not better at tennis. Lyle was the one who was nationally ranked at tennis

[@Stella-5555]

Thanks Observe!!!! ❤

[@wallyllama2926]

I detest Barbra Walters. She was the worst.

[@notjustanotherbrickinthewall]

I don’t know what to think about this case. I feel like they should get prison time, but maybe not without the possibility of parole. Would be interested to see this in court again. But what they did was surely an overkill and that’s terrifying. I understand they were abused but murdering someone so brutally is not the answer. How did they feel in danger? Didn’t the parents watch tv?

[@LanaMarusic]

You have to consider that the parents constantly abused them, mentally almost all of the time. They had expectations the brothers could never fulfil. And they've been beaten regularly by their father. I don't find it hard to understand that they would feel threatened or even develop paranoia.

[@notjustanotherbrickinthewall]

@@LanaMarusic that’s why I would like to see this again in court. I understand and I don’t want anyone to go trough that. But can the experts confirm this. Anyone on the internet can justify anyones actions. Also, why did they spend all that money on cars and stuff like that after the murder? They weren’t in much distress then. Something is not right here.

[@LanaMarusic]

@@notjustanotherbrickinthewall You should take your time and dive into psychology a bit more. Because today we know a lot more about this kind of post traumatic behaviour and their behaviour actually isn't unusual. So many people go and spend money when they're stressed or unhappy. You feel miserable, you have some money, you go out and treat yourself. You go through a break up, you feel like sht, you go to the hairdresser's , get new clothes or shoes. It's really not unusual 🙂. They've been rich, so they bought expensive stuff. Just take the perspective of an abused child (not grown up) and it will make sense.

[@notjustanotherbrickinthewall]

@@LanaMarusic are you a psychologist? Did you work on their case or is your knowledge based on a TV show, Netflix documentary and TikTok? They brutally overkilled, they didn’t have a bad day and went to treat themselves with new cars and expensive stuff.

[@LanaMarusic]

@@notjustanotherbrickinthewall No I'm not a psychologist and I don't think that I need to be one. I don't know if you have kids, but having kids is a huge responsibility and I am pretty much interested in the brain development of (my) kids. While researching about it I also learnt about how kids develop if they are depraved of love and support, growing up in an abusive environment and the brothers do exhibit that kind of behaviour. If you have a look at the testimonies of their family and friends it just makes sense.

[@katrinavilensky2095]

Murder and cover up were premeditated. They were both adults and had enough autonomy to move away. Punishment for double homicide in California is 50 to life. Even if Jose murder could be considered a manslaughter because of self defence, the mother without Jose was no threat to them

[@KalKonG]

Thank you for this

[@YoyiSanE]

Why would they grieve for the real monsters.

[@RhianChambers]

I really hate the terminology around the brothers, they were not “boys” they were boys when they were being abused as children but by the time they committed the crime they were men not boys

[@wellthisisinteresting4912]

Well the experts that evaluated them concluded that their emotional ages were 8-12 at the time of the m*rders, because of the abuse. So you would be wrong to say they were adults in the real sense of the word.

[@dreaj1077]

Erik was still being abused even at the age at 18

[@RhianChambers]

@@dreaj1077​​⁠im not disputing that, at all and i think i was pretty clear, u know full well what i was saying and ur choosing to play dumb. By the time he committed the crime he was not a child and ppl should stop calling them “boys”

[@GrinGrim87]

I'm assuming people are doing that because they were proven not to be adults mentally

[@Katlove45]

Erik Menendez really reminds me of/looks like the actor Michael Fassbender. Especially when he portrayed Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) in the X-men movies.

[@Dark_heart888]

Now in his 50's he looks a little like Sam Neil.

[@promisejrhodes]

The way Lyle stares at Eric is very interesting to me. 🤔

[@heathertapper-gq6pk]

Why because he's protective of his baby brother that's all

[@kokobop8138]

i never got the whole “they spent money after their parents deaths” like hello they were already rich and this was their lifestyle and if they really were going through it with their parents death then they wouldn’t make it so obvious that they weren’t grieving by going on this shopping spree. It’s obvious they had no idea how this would look like from an outsider perspective with a person that didn’t have the money they did. This was clearly just the way they had lived their entire lives so going on a shopping spree wasn’t at all suspicious to them.

[@roses.forsaken3892]

My dad went to federal prison with them lol

[@Megz207]

I’m sorry about your dad. I hope things worked out for him and you too.

[@Edgeley]

Love to hear more - both manipulative liars I have heard - claiming sexual abuse ….Jodie arias vibes

[@oscarrosander5242]

Mee too in Orange County ya heard, yere that shit wuzz cray cray yuuur, bout to get me some fried chicken yaaa and watermelon if ya undastand

[@veec5588]

Boo hiss ​@@Edgeley

[@Mariabea63]

Spill the tea

[@charlene9651]

New video suggestion here…Netflix series “I am a Killer”…I’m finishing the first episode of the series and am trying to analyze this murderer but would love to hear your analysis because I’m not good at it lol

[@mandilynn24]

These poor kiddos, now grown men. I intimately know a wonderful man that was abused sexually and verbally by their own father. He was filled with rage and wanted to kill him. His father ended up with terminal cancer and he went to the hospital to make sure he was really dead! 😢

[@lifewithliana2801]

Thanks to you I feel so comfortable reading body language. Thank you! This is going to be a great watch.

[@missholywater]

This interview made me feel immediately lyle must have been the abuser to his brother

[@missholywater]

It’s very clear when Eric speaks its as though Lyle is speaking through him..

[@CherryAmour]

It’s sad that the reality is that if they had told the police of their father’s abuse they likely wouldn’t have received help bc of the stigma around male victims at that time and because of their fathers fame. I see why they truly felt they had no options. It’s crazy that abusers will brutally r**e people for years and only get 2 years in prison but when the victims defend themselves they get life in prison.

[@aBlackSh33p]

Could be a manipulation but the complete shift in tone and perspective, could also be dissociative disorder, which would track with the ongoing childhood abuse & trauma.

[@NJItalianGal747]

I dont condone murder but i feel sorry 4 boys

[@audreydaleski1067]

Every felon in prison has a thousand abuse stories. It was their choice that got them where they are