Menendez Brothers Pursued $20 Million Insurance Payout After 1989 Killings, Ex-Partner Says
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 13
Menendez Brothers Pursued $20 Million Insurance Payout After 1989 Killings, Ex-Partner Says
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 13
Summary
Peter Hoffman, Jose Menendez’s former business partner, says Lyle Menendez asked within days of the 1989 murders when a $20 million life insurance payment would be made.
Hoffman said no payout was available because Jose had not completed the required physical, though investigators later found Lyle had searched his father’s computer and seen the apparent death-benefit figure.
The account, published in Hoffman’s new memoir, reinforces prosecutors’ long-running claim that Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents for financial gain rather than out of fear after years of abuse.
Hoffman said he never believed Jose abused his sons and backed the brothers’ 2025 parole denial, while saying they should only be considered for release if they fully admit what happened.
Lyle and Erik, convicted in 1996 and resentenced in May 2025 to 50 years to life, were denied parole in August 2025 and can seek release again in three years.