Lyle Menéndez and his brother, Erik Menéndez, turned notorious for his or her extremely publicized 1993 trial over the murders of their mother and father. The brothers shot and killed their mom, Mary Louise “Kitty,” and father, José, claiming they had been victims of bodily, emotional, and sexual abuse by the hands of their mother and father. Regardless of their life sentences, the Menendez brothers nonetheless attracted vital consideration from girls. In reality, each brothers married whereas behind bars—Lyle doing so greater than as soon as.
Right here’s every thing you’ll want to find out about Lyle’s relationship historical past with two girls whereas serving his life sentence.
Who Is Anna Erikkson?
Lyle’s first spouse, Anna Eriksson, was born in Chicago and commenced modeling as a teen for Lord & Taylor earlier than transitioning to modeling in Europe through the Nineteen Eighties, as she informed PEOPLE in 1996.
Eriksson defined that she first wrote to Lyle throughout his trial, sending a message that learn, “Grasp powerful,” which began their correspondence. “All I can say is that we’ve related, despite the fact that we’ve by no means touched,” she informed the outlet. Eriksson moved to L.A. to be nearer to Lyle, they usually had been married on July 2, 1996, simply earlier than he and his brother had been convicted of their mother and father’ murders.
Nonetheless, the Los Angeles Instances reported that the California Division of Corrections didn’t “acknowledge the marriage” and deemed it “not a authorized marriage” because it passed off over the cellphone. On April 1, 2001, it was introduced that Lyle and Anna had filed for divorce. Eriksson reportedly determined to finish their marriage after discovering Lyle’s romantic involvement with one other lady — Rebecca Sneed.
Who Is Rebecca Sneed?
Much like Eriksson, Menendez and Sneed started their relationship via letters.
On November 20, 2003, Lyle married Rebecca, a former journal editor who had transitioned right into a protection legal professional from Sacramento. They’d been corresponding for practically a decade earlier than their wedding ceremony, which passed off within the visiting space of California’s Mule Creek State Jail.
Regardless of the challenges of their distinctive scenario, Lyle described his marriage to Sneed as “wholesome” and “constructed round discovering inventive methods to speak.” Throughout ABC’s Reality and Lies: The Menendez Brothers, he shared, “I’ve discovered I can have a wholesome marriage that’s sophisticated and constructed round dialog and discovering inventive methods to speak, sharing, with out all of the props which might be usually there in marriage by way of going out to dinner and having as a lot intimate time collectively and so forth.”
He added, “One factor I’ve realized is that your bodily consolation is far much less essential than your reference to the folks round you.”
Throughout an interview with PEOPLE, Lyle defined, “Our interplay tends to be very freed from distractions, and we in all probability have extra intimate conversations than most married spouses do. We attempt to speak on the cellphone each day, typically a number of instances a day. I’ve a really regular, concerned marriage that helps maintain me and brings a lot peace and pleasure. It’s a counter to the unpredictable, very demanding atmosphere right here.”
Acknowledging the challenges Rebecca confronted, Lyle stated, “Persons are judgmental, and he or she has to place up with quite a bit. However she has the braveness to take care of the obstacles. It could be simpler to go away, however I’m profoundly grateful that she doesn’t.”
Is Lyle Menendez Nonetheless Married?
In accordance with Rebecca, she and Lyle separated “some time” in the past, she wrote in a Fb publish on November 22, 2024, per E! Information.
“Lyle and I’ve been separated for some time now however stay greatest family and friends,” Rebecca defined in her Fb publish. “I proceed to run his Fb pages, with enter from him, and I’m without end dedicated to the enduring battle for Lyle and Erik’s freedom, as has been so evident through the years.”
After vowing to maintain supporters up to date on Erik and Lyle’s upcoming listening to, Rebecca clarified, “That is NOT a dishonest scandal.” She was seemingly referring to the net rumors that her estranged husband had cheated on her with a youthful lady.
Rebecca’s social media publish contradicts what Lyle stated about their marriage weeks prior. In accordance with an announcement obtained by NBC Information, Lyle mirrored on his expertise being a husband whereas nonetheless in jail.
“This coming November shall be my twentieth wedding ceremony anniversary,” Lyle wrote in his assertion. “Studying to be a husband and a associate from inside a jail has been difficult. It has additionally modified my life in so many optimistic methods. … Her unwavering assist and perception in me is one thing I’m most grateful for and has performed no small half in my journey to be a greater individual.”
Is Erik Menendez Married?
As for Lyle’s brother, Erik, he has been married to his spouse, Tammi Saccoman, since 1999. Erik met Tammi whereas in jail, and the 2 started their relationship via letters.
