Who are the Menendez brothers who got married while in prison for life?

Erik Menéndez AND Lyle Menéndez both found life partners while serving individual life sentences in a high-profile murder case.

The Menéndez brothers were arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree murder after their parents, José and Kitty, were shot to death in their home. In two trials, Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life in prison without parole; both alleged that their mother and father were physically, emotionally and sexually abusive.

After initially staying in the same prison, Erik and Lyle were transferred to Folsom State Prison after their sentencing. Lyle was taken to Mule Creek State Prison and Erik to Pleasant Valley State Prison, both located in California. They were reunited in 2018 when they were transferred to the same housing unit at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.

Erik previously addressed rumors about his personal life amid speculation about his sexuality.

“No (I’m not gay). The prosecutor raised this issue because I had been sexually harassed and in his mind he had the feeling that if my father sodomized me, I must have liked it and therefore I must be gay,” he said in an interview with Barbara Walters from 1996 “And people who are gay must be sexually harassed, otherwise they wouldn’t be. I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m not gay. But a lot of gay people write and feel connected to me.”

Erik finally found love Tammi Ruth Saccomanwhom he married in 1999. The couple does not receive any conjugal visits because under California law, inmates serving life sentences do not have such privileges.

“Tammi is the one who keeps me going,” Erik said People in 2005.. “I can’t think about that sentence. When I do this, I do it with great sadness and primal fear. I’m breaking into a cold sweat. It’s so terrifying that I just can’t accept it.

Erik appreciated Tammi’s support for helping him and added, “Tammi’s love was an important step in my choice of life. Having someone who loves you unconditionally, with whom you can be completely open, is good for everyone – to know that this person loves me just as I am.

Meanwhile, Lyle got married Rebecca Sneed in 2003. “People can be judgmental and she has to put up with a lot,” Lyle shared People in 2017 about how he “feels guilty” for what his wife has to endure in public places. “But he has the courage to face obstacles. It would be easier to walk away, but I am deeply grateful that he doesn’t.”

Keep scrolling to learn about Erik and Lyle’s personal lives:

Erik Menendez

Erik married Tammi in 1999 when she began writing him letters in prison. She stayed with him while serving his sentence. Tammi has a daughter from a previous marriage, Talia, who has shown support for Erik and Lyle on her social media account.

During a 2005 interview with Walters, Tammi described her relationship with Eric as something she had “dreamed about for a long time” and added, “It’s something very special that I never thought I would ever have.”

Tammi clarified that she has no physical relationship with Eric. During visits, they are allowed to kiss each other hello and goodbye.

“The lack of sex in my life is difficult, but for me it’s not a problem. I have to be emotionally attached, and I’m emotionally attached to Eric,” Tammi said People in 2005. “My family doesn’t understand. When things started getting serious, some people just raised their hands.

Lyle Menendez

After his arrest, Lyle met up Anna Eriksson by mail and were married in 1996 at a wedding attended by his lawyer Leslie Abramson and his aunt Marta Menendez. However, according to a report by the California Department of Corrections, the marriage was not deemed legal Los Angeles Times. in 1997

The couple separated in 2001 after learning that Lyle was writing letters to other women. Two years later, Lyle married Rebecca, having known her for almost ten years through correspondence.

“Our interactions are typically free from distractions, and we probably have more intimate conversations than most spouses who are distracted by life events,” Lyle said People in 2017. “We try to talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day. I have a very stable, committed marriage that helps me support myself and brings me a lot of peace and joy. It’s the opposite of the unpredictable, high-stress environment here.”