Truth on Monsters Version of Erik Menendez, O.J. Simpson’s Time in Jail

The sensational murder trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1993 and O.J. Simpson‘s “trial of the century” soon after marked two of the biggest media events of the 1990s as televised court proceedings caught fire. The cases even have similar origins, with horrific killings in affluent neighborhoods in West Los Angeles. That’s why in Netflix and Ryan Murphy’s controversial new series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, it’s no surprise to find some key moments from the former linebacker’s closely-watched trial referenced in passing and in the background — it’s when Simpson turns up in the series’ penultimate episode as a character, moments after his arrest in 1994 following his infamous Bronco chase, that it feels like the show has taken another one of its generous liberties with the truth of what happened.

But with Simpson and Menendez crossing paths, it did happen. While Erik Menendez was being held at Los Angeles jail at length following his arrest along with his brother for the murder of his parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, Simpson was held in a cell next to the younger Menendez brother for a significant amount of time. In fact, what amounts to a short conversation between the two incarcerated unwitting tabloid stars to punctuate an episode filled with legal disappointments for the titular brothers, in reality, was a series of conversations over about 10 days.

As Robert Rand writes in The Menendez Murders, his definitive book on the killings and trials (as well as a new addendum describing fresh evidence the author discovered that may help the brothers’ legal case), Simpson and Erik Menendez knew each other before the unexpected jailhouse meeting in June 1994. When the brothers were children, Jose Menendez was climbing the corporate ladder and for a period, worked as an executive at RCA’s Hertz company. Simpson famously did ads for the company, dashing through an airport to his rental in one spot so popular, it may have made him a household name more than his football career. A few times, Jose Menendez invited Simpson to his home and it was there that he met the brothers when they were little children. 

As the 10 days of conversations between Erik and O.J. were pared down to a few minutes of the Netflix series, many details reported by Rand for a Playboy magazine feature published in 1995, are not included. One of the elements of their jailhouse friendship that was omitted: young and somewhat lacking in street-smarts Erik Menendez advised big man O.J. Simpson not to befriend the guards or get chummy with jail staff, as they were not as trustworthy as Simpson apparently saw them. 

“I remember Erik telling me that O.J. was just super friendly with all the deputies, and all the deputies you know, like, came around with signed pictures,” Rand told The Hollywood Reporter by phone. “They were used to having celebrities of O.J.’s level in their custody. So Erik was calling me like every night giving me updates, this happened today or that happened today. But I had the impression that O.J. really appreciated the friendship and advice from Erik.”

One key moment Rand reported happened in the jailhouse that did make the cut in the Netflix series: Menendez giving Simpson advice in episode eight’s final seconds to take a plea deal in his case. While this works as a gag of sorts and set-up for the final episode’s opening moment, it wasn’t Erik who gave him that piece of advice; it was, in fact, Lyle. 

“O.J. and Lyle Menendez spent many hours in the jail’s attorney room while waiting for their attorneys or material witnesses,” Rand wrote. “For 100 hours of contact between the two inmates, the two high-profile prisoners talked openly and exchanged dozens of letters. Lyle advised O.J. he should consider taking a plea deal and O.J. briefly considered that option — according to Lyle — but later told Menendez he couldn’t do that because it would ruin his reputation and he would never work again.”

Ultimately, the series skips over most of this and condenses the Simpson story arc to a short sequence, and it works as Erik makes the suggestion that this NFL star will be the next big media sensation — his star shining again as the Menendez story is quickly discarded. And that is exactly what did happen.