True Crime

A female juror from the Menendez brothers' first trial is speaking out -- about how sexism and homophobia impacted that outcome, and why she thinks they deserve to walk free now.

Hazel Thornton, who voted to convict Erik and Lyle Menendez of voluntary manslaughter back in 1994, joined us on "TMZ Live" ... and claims the male jurors she served with didn't buy the argument the brothers were molested by their dad, José Menendez, and also felt the public pressure to make a "macho" decision.

Hazel elaborated that homophobia was the biggest issue in the trial, highlighting how the case's prosecutor suggested the family's problems stemmed from Erik allegedly being gay.

"American Horror Story" alum Naomi Grossman is coming to Ryan Murphy's defense amid the growing debate surrounding "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

ICYMI ... the Menendez brothers have made it clear they aren't fans of the show, with EM previously bashing the Netflix drama as a "dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime."

Yet, when we caught up with Naomi in Santa Monica, California, she voiced her shock at the siblings' outrage ... since she felt the show painted Lyle and Erik as "total victims."

Lyle and Erik Menendez's lawyer is feeling confident after the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced they're reviewing new evidence in the Menendez brothers case ... which could potentially result in the brothers' release from prison.

We had Mark Geragos on "TMZ Live" Friday, where he explained why he has a positive outlook about his clients' case following Thursday's press conference. As Geragos puts it ... D.A. George Gascón is brave to touch the controversial 35-year-old case in an election year, as Gascón himself is on the ballot in November.

The lawyer feels the D.A. is serious when he said his office is reviewing sexual abuse claims Lyle and Erik have made against their late father, Jose Menendez. Those allegations were not allowed to be presented in the brothers' 2nd murder trial ... which led to their life without parole convictions.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are experiencing newfound fame behind bars thanks to the popular Netflix series about the gruesome murders of their parents ... and there's a weird request that keeps coming up in the fan mail that's been pouring in, TMZ has learned.

A source with knowledge at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego tells TMZ ... the infamous Menendez brothers have seen a "huge" increase in mail from fans (and, of course, some haters) thanks to wild interest in Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

Perhaps the most interesting item the brothers are being sent ... 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson NBA cards -- the brothers are on the card, snapped sitting in the Knicks crowd, after the murders, before their arrests -- and people want 'em autographed.

Interest in the 35-year-old Menendez brothers murder case has skyrocketed thanks to the wildly popular Netflix series ... and neighbors on the affluent block of the infamous family home are livid about it!

Beverly Hills authorities tell TMZ ... police have received a slew of calls from irate neighbors who are tired of the influx of foot and car traffic on their block ... and they want cops to intervene.

Calls to police have been coming in for more than a week ... and it all started after "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" dropped on the streamer, we hear -- so it's pretty clear what's happening.

Erik and Lyle Menendez were glued to the screen as prosecutors made a major announcement in their murder case ... watching it all unfold from behind bars.

Sources with knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... the Menendez brothers watched Thursday's press conference live from prison, tuning in to see L.A. County D.A. George Gascón announce prosecutors would be reviewing new evidence.

Gascón says his office is reviewing Erik and Lyle's claims that their father, Jose Menendez, molested them before they killed him ... and he said he would decide if the brothers should get a new trial or if prosecutors should go for a new sentence -- presumably manslaughter -- which could set them free.

Kim Kardashian is putting her lawyer cap on ... she says the Menendez brothers should be released from prison.

In an essay to NBC News Kim wrote ... Erik and Lyle Menendez "are not monsters" and are instead "kind, intelligent and honest men" who should have their life sentences reconsidered.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday prosecutors are reviewing the Menendez brothers' claims that they were molested by the father they killed, and Gascón will decide if Erik and Lyle should get a new trial, or if they should get a new sentence -- presumably for manslaughter -- that could set them free.

The Menendez brothers' savage shotgun slaying of their parents in 1989 left a gruesome mark on their family home’s living room -- a chilling scene that's still haunting more than 30 years later.

The lavish Beverly Hills mansion is getting a facelift by its new owners ... and a construction worker's recent TikTok takes viewers inside the freshly gutted room where Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered.

The TikTok shows the eerie family room stripped down to its bones, with only the wooden shelf frame and draped curtains still standing, plus some orange markings and a torn up wall where the TV once was.

Anna Kendrick is starring in and directing a new movie about "Dating Game Killer" Rodney Alcala ... and she just released the first trailer, and it's super interesting.

The movie is called "Woman of The Hour" and it's coming to Netflix later this month ... with Anna playing Cheryl Bradshaw, the woman who Alcala won a date with in a 1978 episode of the classic game show.

Cheryl infamously bailed on the date with Alcala after actually meeting him, because she found him to be "creepy" ... and years later, a California jury found Alcala had been on a killing spree before his TV debut.

Erik Menéndez hasn't held back on his negative reaction to Ryan Murphy's new Netflix biopic series about him and his brother Lyle -- but the actor who plays him says it was all love behind the scenes.

Cooper Koch said when he rolled up to San Diego’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility with Kim Kardashian to meet the Menendez bros last week, he dove right in to hug Erik and Lyle -- describing them as "upstanding" individuals and saying it was an amazing experience to be in their company.

Cooper told Variety the instant vibe between him and Erik was sparked by a phone call they had before meeting up ... saying he reassured Erik he was all about portraying him authentically in "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

Ryan Murphy isn’t budging after the Menéndez brothers threw shade at their portrayal in his new Netflix series ... and while he's at it, he's also defending the incestuous storyline between the duo.

The director was scratching his head over why Erik and Lyle were so mad about "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story," especially since he said he knew for a fact they hadn't even watched the show yet.

Addressing Erik's lengthy criticism in particular, Ryan told E! News at the "Grotesquerie" premiere he hoped Erik actually watched the series -- adding if he did, he'd be unbelievably proud of Cooper Koch, the actor playing him.

Zak Bagans' disturbing collection of memorabilia just got even creepier ... as he's revealed he now owns the remains of notorious serial killer Samuel Little.

The "Ghost Adventures" star tells TMZ his haunted Las Vegas Museum is now home to the fully sealed remains of Little -- one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history, with 93 confessed victims.

Zak tells us over the weekend he also received Little’s portfolio of hand-drawn portraits of his victims, along with his prison belongings from the time of his death. That includes everything from clothes and shoes to a TV, hygiene items, and even an art kit.

The trial of Young Dolph's alleged murderers is off to a bombshell start, as one of the accused shooters confessed on the stand, and even implicated his co-defendant.

While testifying Monday, Cornelius Smith admitted he was indeed the man seen firing the semi-automatic weapon in the November 2021 surveillance footage that captured the Memphis rap superstar's murder.

According to Smith, he had no emotions at the time he took Dolph's life, he was simply attempting to line his pockets with cash -- $100,000 to be exact, paid by Yo Gotti's now deceased brother Big Jook, who, himself was murdered in January.

Erik Menéndez is outraged over the new Netflix series about how he and his brother Lyle notoriously murdered their parents in 1989 ... and he says Ryan Murphy went out of his way to slander the infamous siblings!

Here's the deal ... "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story" debuted Thursday on Netflix ... dramatically chronicling what happened before, during and after the brothers shot their affluent parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez.

The actual Erik called BS on the series ... and lambasted RM for his “naive and inaccurate” depiction of the brutal home slayings that made international headlines.

Full House creator Jeff Franklin is renting out his house for a whopping $225,000 a month!!! But more intriguing than the price -- the bloody history of the property.

You see, Jeff owns the estate where Charles Manson executed one of the most notorious murders in U.S. history ... It was 1969, when Manson Family members descended on the home Sharon Tate was renting and slaughtered her, her unborn baby and 4 others.

The house -- in a somewhat remote part of Bev Hills -- was torn down years after the murders and an enormous mansion was built in its place. It's 21,000 square feet with 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a waterfall pool, fire pit, a hot tub built in a small cave and jetliner views of the City of Angels.

Bryan Kohberger's murder trial will officially be moved out of the college town where 4 students were notoriously slain ... a judge recently ruled.

Judge John C. Judge issued the order after a hearing last month, when Kohberger's defense team argued their client would not get a fair trial in the small Idaho town of Moscow.

Kohberger's lawyers claimed the amount of media scrutiny surrounding the case from press, internet sleuths and more created a risk that BK would not get an impartial, fair jury ... since jurors would be made up of people who've likely consumed the constant coverage.