advertisement

Lyle Menendez talks prison life, marriage in phone interview

IONE, Calif. (AP) - Lyle Menendez says his childhood prepared him "surprisingly well for the chaos of prison life."

Menendez and his younger brother, Erik, killed their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers admitted the killings. They were convicted of murder in 1996 and sentenced to life terms without parole.

Lyle Menendez is now 48. He tells ABC News in a phone interview from a California prison that he maintains a close bond with his brother, even though he is being housed at a separate facility. He also reiterated claims of sexual abuse at the hands of his father. Kitty Menendez's brother denied those claims to ABC News, saying there's "no indication" Jose Menendez abused his sons.

Lyle Menendez also says he's happily married despite being barred from having conjugal visits with his wife.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.