Could a picture of familial bliss mask a horrifying secret lurking beneath the surface? The brutal murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez at the hands of their own sons, Lyle and Erik, exposed the dark underbelly of a seemingly perfect Beverly Hills family, a case that continues to fascinate and disturb decades later.

The night of August 20, 1989, shattered the tranquility of the affluent Beverly Hills neighborhood. Lyle Menendez, then 21, placed a frantic call to 911, reporting the unimaginable: "Someone killed my parents!" Jose Menendez, 45, and his wife, Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, 47, lay dead in their family room, victims of a savage shotgun attack. The scene was one of unspeakable violence. Kitty suffered wounds to her head, chest, hand, arm, and leg. Both parents were found dead on the couch. The gruesome details of the autopsies would later shock the nation, revealing the extent of the damage inflicted upon their bodies. The initial investigation focused on the possibility of a mob hit, given Jose's successful career as a film and music executive. However, suspicion soon turned towards the grieving sons.

Category	Jose Menendez	Kitty Menendez
Full Name	Jose Menendez	Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez
Date of Birth	October 20, 1944	June 4, 1941
Date of Death	August 20, 1989	August 20, 1989
Age at Death	45	47
Occupation	Film and Music Executive	Homemaker
Residence	Beverly Hills, California	Beverly Hills, California
Children	Lyle and Erik Menendez	Lyle and Erik Menendez
Spouse	Kitty Menendez	Jose Menendez
Additional Information	Known for his demanding personality and business acumen.	Described as a devoted mother, though later accusations painted a different picture.
Reference Link	Murderpedia - Jose and Kitty Menendez