1991 Playboy Feature May Shed New Light on the Menendez Brothers

IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
The longest article written for the magazine at the time is more topical than ever.

Ever since the September release of Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix, the infamous brothers have received a slew of advocates, saying that their case should be retried. In 1990, journalist Robert Rand wrote an extensive expose of the Menendez Brothers case for Playboy.

Writing the Menendez Brothers Playboy Feature

Rand has resurfaced the article on his own website, which he originally covered the case for the Miami Herald. In 1991, he was tapped to cover the Menendez Brothers story for Playboy. His original draft was 22,000 words, considering the breadth of the case. After multiple editors got a hold of it, the article was trimmed down. The final draft was a more manageable 14,000 words. This was, at the time, the longest article Playboy ever published.

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After covering the case, and later the trial, Rand went on to literally write the book on the case in 2018. In “The Menendez Murders,” Rand uncovered new evidence, including a disturbing history of child molestation that goes back generations. Rand’s book was used as the primary source for the NBC special Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.

What’s Next for the Brothers?

As these new revelations spread, the Menendez Brothers have a new slew of advocates, including Kim Kardashian. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is seeking currently seeking resentencing for the brothers. However, Gascon lost his re-election. The new District Attorney-Elect, Nathan Hochman, is currently reviewing the case to see if resentencing is the prudent move.

Rand is, to date, the only reporter that covered the case and both trials. He’s provided analysis for Court TV, CNN, ABC News, and CBS News, and written for The Guardian, People, and of course, Playboy. You can read his feature on the Menendez Brothers from Playboy on his website.

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