The Menendez Brothers: 4 Infamous Places They Called Home—From Beverly Hills To A Shared Prison Cell

Few true crime cases have captivated the public imagination and media cycle quite like the Menendez brothers. The story of Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez, two privileged young men from a wealthy family who murdered their parents, is one of extreme luxury, shocking violence, and decades of legal drama. As of late 2025, the case has seen significant updates, especially regarding their current living situation and potential for parole, renewing curiosity about the journey of their lives—and, specifically, the infamous places they called home.

The question of "where did they live" is not just about an address; it traces the trajectory of a dark and complex saga, from their childhood homes in New York and New Jersey, to the sprawling Spanish-style mansion in Beverly Hills where the unthinkable occurred, and finally, to their current, unexpected shared residence behind bars in a California prison.

The Menendez Brothers: A Complete Biographical Profile

The lives of Lyle and Erik Menendez are inextricably linked to their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, and the opulence that surrounded them. Their journey from elite private schools to the center of a national media frenzy is detailed below.

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• Lyle Menendez (Joseph Lyle Menendez): Born January 10, 1968. He was 21 years old at the time of the murders.
• Erik Menendez (Erik Galen Menendez): Born November 27, 1970. He was 18 years old at the time of the murders.
• Father (Victim): José Enrique Menendez. A Cuban-born entertainment executive and accountant who rose to prominence, serving as CEO of Live Entertainment.
• Mother (Victim): Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez (née Andersen). A former schoolteacher and homemaker.
• Date of Murders: August 20, 1989.
• Crime Location: 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
• Conviction: March 1996. Both were convicted of first-degree murder.

1. The Early Years: Queens, New York, and Cedar Grove, New Jersey

The Menendez brothers' lives began far from the palm trees of Beverly Hills. Their residences mirrored the upward mobility of their father, José Menendez, as he climbed the corporate ladder. This early period of their lives provided a foundational, if troubled, backdrop.

The East Coast Origins

Lyle Menendez was born in Queens, New York, in 1968, indicating the family's initial base in the New York metropolitan area.

As José's career progressed, the family relocated to Cedar Grove, New Jersey, where Erik Menendez was born in 1970. These early homes, though less publicized than their final residence, were the sites of their formative years, which the brothers later alleged were marked by a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father, a claim that became the central defense in their trials.

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The family's move to California in 1986, and their eventual purchase of the North Elm Drive mansion, signaled their arrival at the pinnacle of American wealth and success.

2. The Infamous Mansion: 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills

The most recognizable and tragic location in the Menendez saga is the family's Beverly Hills mansion, the scene of the crime. Purchased for $4 million in 1988, just one year before the murders, the residence was a symbol of the immense wealth and privilege the brothers enjoyed.

A Home Synonymous with Tragedy

The address, 722 North Elm Drive, is now globally synonymous with the case. The Spanish-style mansion, originally built in 1927, was a lavish, multi-million dollar property in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the world.

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It was in the den of this home that Lyle, then 21, and Erik, 18, used shotguns to murder their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, on August 20, 1989. Following the killings, the brothers spent lavishly, drawing suspicion from investigators and the public, an act that further cemented the house's dark legacy.

After the conviction, the property was sold and has since changed hands multiple times. Despite the passage of decades, the home remains a morbid point of interest for true crime enthusiasts and a constant feature in discussions about the case.

3. The Current Residence: Donovan Correctional Facility (2025 Update)

After their initial arrests in 1990 and subsequent conviction in 1996, the brothers were sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Their lives shifted drastically from the luxury of Beverly Hills to the stark reality of the California penal system.

A Shared Life Behind Bars

For many years, Lyle and Erik were intentionally separated, housed in different prisons to prevent them from communicating. However, their current living situation is one of the most compelling updates to the case.

Both brothers are now incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Erik Menendez had been at Donovan since 2013, and Lyle was transferred there later. Crucially, in 2018, the brothers were moved to the same housing unit, allowing them to see and interact with each other for the first time in over two decades. This reunion, a poignant moment in a decades-long separation, allowed the brothers to finally share the same physical space after years of communicating only through letters and occasional legal proceedings.

The 2025 Resentencing and Parole Hearings

The most significant recent development affecting their "residence" is the change in their parole eligibility. In May 2025, a California judge resentenced both Lyle and Erik Menendez to 50 years to life, which surprisingly makes them eligible for parole.

This resentencing was a direct result of new legislation related to defendants who committed crimes while under the age of 26 and who allege a history of abuse. The brothers' defense of imperfect self-defense, stemming from the alleged sexual abuse by their father, was central to this new ruling.

Parole hearings for both brothers were subsequently set for August 2025. While some reports indicate that a parole board panel rejected Lyle's release in August 2025, the resentencing itself has fundamentally changed their future, offering a glimmer of hope for a life outside the correctional facility.

The Legacy of the Menendez Residences

The story of the Menendez brothers is a chilling study of extremes. Their residences serve as physical markers of their dramatic fall from grace.

The lavish 722 North Elm Drive mansion stands as a monument to the dark side of wealth and the hidden trauma that can exist behind closed doors. The stark, shared cell at Donovan Correctional Facility, on the other hand, represents the final, binding consequence of their actions and the long-awaited reunion of two brothers who committed a heinous crime while alleging a desperate act of self-preservation.

As the legal system continues to grapple with the complexities of their case—balancing the horror of the first-degree murder conviction with the allegations of abuse and imperfect self-defense—the world watches the Menendez brothers, now middle-aged men, as they await the next chapter of their lives, perhaps finally outside the walls of their current, shared home.