Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez were convicted of killing their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Lyle and Erik claimed that unknown intruders were responsible for the murders, framing it as a potential mob killing. Erik confessed to the murders in sessions with his psychologist, citing a desire to be free of a controlling father with high standards, which led to their arrests months later. The highly publicized trials received international media attention, inspiring numerous documentaries, dramatizations, books, and parodies.