**Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual abuse **
There’s been a lot of conversation about Erik and Lyle Menendez following the virality of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series, Monsters. So much so that a court hearing has been set for the Menendez brothers where newly discovered evidence with be brought before the district attorney in the hopes of having their sentence reconsidered.
For all the conversations being had, none prove more pertinent than what’s being said by the brothers themselves and those closest to them. Erik and Lyle Menendez’ aunt and the older sister of Kitty Menendez, Joan VanderMolen has supported her nephews since the start, often advocating on their behalf. Now, she’s revealed more intimate details of their lives before and after the crime.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the now 92-year-old spoke about the abuse the boys suffered, her sister Kitty and more.
Kitty Was Told About The Abuse By Her Niece Diane
According to Joan, her daughter Diane witnessed some of the abuse the boys were enduring and attempted to tell Kitty what had been happening.
“Diane stayed a longer time [when visiting the family] and witnessed more of it, and she’s the one that told Kitty that Lyle’s father was abusing him. But she didn’t believe it. She took Lyle right upstairs to his dad so he could do what he wanted,” Joan revealed.
And it wasn’t without impact on Diane herself.
“Still to this day. It’s affected her whole life. She loves those boys so much. It breaks my heart to even talk about it. Nothing that [Erik and Lyle] were experiencing is normal, but she did what she could. Kitty didn’t listen. It was devastating for Diane.”
Looking Back, There Were Alarming Signs Of Abuse
In a devastating revelation, Joan recounted odd behaviour from Erik as a child as a result of the assault and that he still carries out today.
“Erik simply refused to eat unless he had lemon. And my dad could not fathom what the problem was. No matter what my dad did or said it didn’t change: He had to have lemon. And it turns out that he was being assaulted by his dad, and I don’t know how to phrase it other than by being vulgar, but would cum in his mouth and make Erik swallow it,” she said.
She then added that “to this day Erik has to have his lemon. That was so ingrained in him…He still needs lemon with his meals.”
The Brothers Tried To Convince Their Mother To Leave
Raising the question of how Joan balances her support for Erik and Lyle while also mourning the loss of her sister, she revealed that the brothers urged Kitty to leave Jose, offering to support her.
“They tried so hard to get her to leave him, and this is the result. I don’t know what else to say. She was behind everything Jose did and she knew what was going on. And how could you not [do something]? It makes me sick that Erik—that anybody had to go through that,” she said.
The Family Wants Them Freed
With the exception of her brother, Milton, the entire family wants to see the brothers set free.
“They didn’t deserve any of this. They were used and abused and there seems to be no end to it,” she said.
She went on to add that she speaks with Erik and Lyly regularly, if not weekly, and they remain positive of a possible change in their sentence.
“They’re hopeful. That’s all I can say is hopeful. We all are. I could cry just thinking about all the years that have gone on, and there they are.”
READ NEXT: Who Are The Women Married To Lyle And Erik Menendez?
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
