The Beverly Hills mansion made infamous for the grisly murders committed by the Menendez brothers, who brutally killed their parents, has been sold for a staggering $17 million.
This sale closed exactly 28 years to the day after the brothers were convicted of their heinous crimes.
The Mediterranean-style villa, set in the trendy Beverly Hills 90210 zip code, had initially been listed at almost $20 million but was forced to undergo a significant price reduction before its was finally sold.
Despite its luxurious features such as a pool, tennis court, and a two-story guesthouse, the price cut of about 25 percent below market value was almost certainly due to the mansion’s dark and uncomfortable history.
The Beverly Hills mansion, the site of the Menendez brothers’ gruesome murder of their parents has sold for $17 million, exactly 28 years after their conviction
The Mediterranean-style villa, set in the trendy Beverly Hills 90210 zip code comes with a refreshing swimming poole at hot tub in the rear
A spacious living room complete with fire place and French doors lead out into the garden
‘It really is the bad voodoo that comes in when buying a house to live in with your family, that can creep out people,’ President of Strategic Property Analytics and Forensic Appraiser Orell Anderson told Realtor.com.
‘There tends to almost always be a discount, but sometimes it’s purchased by people who are not bothered by these things.’
The mansion, spanning 9,063 square feet, boasts a rich history dating back to its construction in 1927.
It was later redesigned in 1984 by a friend of the Menendez family, Mark Slotkin.
Slotkin sold the property to José Menendez, the brothers’ father, for $4 million in 1988.
Slotkin played a significant role in the subsequent trial as he testified about certain details of the mansion, including the soundproofing he had installed, which challenged the testimony of a maid who claimed to have overheard family arguments.
Erik, right, and Lyle Menendez, left, are seen during their 1990 murder trial
The former home of the Menendez family can be seen here in this picture from 2021
The murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez on August 20, 1989, sparked international attention with speculation initially pointing towards a possible mob hit.
The couple were shot dead in the den of the family’s mansion.
It was eventually revealed that Erik and Lyle Menendez were responsible for the brutal killings. At the time of the killings, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18.
During their trial, the brothers did not deny the killings but claimed that they had endured years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their music executive father, forcing them to live in constant fear, leading to their eventual decision to murder their parents.
The pair claimed they acted in self-defense, namely out of fear their father would kill them.
Arguments put forward by their defense team described the pair as ‘not harboring the mental state needed for first-degree murder and were therefore guilty of manslaughter’, but a Los Angeles jury found the brothers guilty of first-degree murder in March 1996.
The home is pictured in this evidence photo that was used during the trial
Chilling crime scene photos showing the blood-soaked couch where Jose Menendez was shot five times by his own sons became central to the prosecution
The brothers, who initially blamed the killings on the mob, later claimed they shot their parents in self-defense after years of horrible sexual and emotional abuse by their father, Jose
Erik Menendez, left, and is brother Lyle, in front of their Beverly Hills home
Erik, left, and Lyle Menendez were responsible for the brutal killings. At the time of the killings, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18
The siblings fatally shot their mom Kitty, a socialite, and dad Jose Menendez, a wealthy record company executive. The family is seen above in an undated photo
Erik, left, and Lyle Menendez, right, are seen in more recent 2016 and 2018 mugshots
The pair are serving life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. Last year, the brothers filed court papers seeking to overturn their convictions based on new evidence.
The Elm Drive mansion remained on the market for several years following the murders, with its ownership changing hands multiple times.
It was finally purchased by television writer William Link in 1993, the writer and co-creator of Murder, She Wrote.
The home was later acquired by telecommunications executive Sam Delug in 2001 for $3.7 million.
Major renovations were then made to the home’s interior in 2002, although the exterior remains very similar to its appearance at the time of the murders.
Delug had been asking for $20 million before this latest price reduction to $17 million.