To set the scene of the famous case, Lyle, 21 at the time, and Eric, 18, shot Jose in the back of the head and Kitty 15 times inside of their parents'

To set the scene of the famous case, Lyle, 21 at the time, and Eric, 18, shot Jose in the back of the head and Kitty 15 times inside of their parents' Beverly Hills home on Aug. 20, 1989, Today reported. Kelly said officials initially suspected the Mafia or a bad business relationship as culprits; however, the brothers were arrested seven months into the investigation. While the prosecutors argued the brothers murdered their parents to obtain the family's fortune, Kelly continued, the defense said the murders were caused by a history of abuse.

"I was dealing with—just a horrifying situation," Menendez told Kelly. "My father was a powerful, film man in his 40s, executive, very threatening man—uh, and my mother also was not like a submissive battered wife. She was a very, uh, aggressive, dynamic person, and I, we, you know, was fearful beyond really all words and, uh, I don't know. I can't really explain why I didn't just pick up and leave other than that I wouldn't leave my brother—he wouldn't leave at all."