In the realm of true crime, the Menendez brothers case stands as a pivotal moment that blazed a trail for the genre as we know it today. The infamous 1989 murder case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who brutally killed their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, captured the public’s attention in a way that was unprecedented at the time.

Long before the era of podcasts and YouTube sleuths, the Menendez case was a media sensation, with their sensational trials becoming must-watch TV for audiences in the 1990s. Today, their story continues to resonate with a new generation of true crime aficionados.

The enduring fascination with the Menendez brothers and the evolution of public perception regarding their defense claim of childhood sexual abuse is the central theme of “Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains,” a new documentary series set to debut on Fox News Media’s streaming service, Fox Nation.

According to Jonathan Towers, vice president of development for Fox Nation, the Menendez case was not just a legal story, but a form of entertainment that captivated audiences and became a cultural phenomenon.

The case’s blend of family dysfunction, wealth, and violence has inspired two made-for-TV movies, an upcoming Netflix series produced by Ryan Murphy, and numerous documentaries over the years.

The grim events of that fateful night in August 1989, when the brothers ruthlessly murdered their parents, shocked the nation. The bloody crime scene left a lasting impact that was hard to ignore, even for seasoned observers.

During their trials, the defense argued that the brothers were driven to commit such heinous acts due to years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father. The legal proceedings, which included hung juries in their first trial in 1993 and convictions in 1996, kept the public on the edge of their seats.

The Menendez trial occurred at a time when courtroom cameras were still a novelty and cable television was on the rise. The live coverage of the trial on Court TV allowed viewers to witness the legal drama unfold in real time, making the brothers ubiquitous figures in the media.

From radio hosts to network news shows, the Menendez brothers were inescapable, paving the way for the media frenzy that would later surround the O.J. Simpson trial in 1994. The influence of their case extended to true crime programming on networks like “Dateline” and “48 Hours,” as well as dedicated cable channels like Investigation Discovery.

As Fox News Media capitalizes on the true crime genre to attract a younger audience, the Menendez brothers’ story remains as compelling today as it was decades ago. The new documentary series, “Victims or Villains,” delves into the complexities of the case and explores how the media frenzy shaped public perceptions.

One striking aspect of the documentary is how the Menendez brothers’ tragedy was once a source of humor, with sketches on “Saturday Night Live” and jokes on late-night talk shows. The evolution of public sentiment and understanding of childhood trauma and abuse is also examined in the series.

Advocates like Rosie O’Donnell, who herself is a survivor of sexual abuse, have championed the brothers’ claims of abuse and raised awareness about the lasting impact of such experiences. The changing attitudes surrounding abuse and trauma have led to a reevaluation of the Menendez case and the validity of their defense.

Despite ongoing legal battles and challenges, the Menendez brothers’ story continues to captivate audiences and spark discussions about justice, trauma, and accountability. The legacy of their case looms large in the true crime genre, paving the way for future investigations and documentaries that seek to unravel the complexities of the human psyche.