The case of Lyle and Erik Menendez is more than 30 years old, but sometimes real estate news happens in real time. Local podcasters and Realtors Heather Guild of Compass and Elena Richey of Standard Real Estate reviewed the case of the Menendez brothers in Episode 27 of their “Crime Estate” podcast. While the episode was being recorded, the Menendez home at 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, went on the market.
The Menendez brothers case is not a whodunit, but supporters of the brothers and new evidence about alleged sexual abuse they suffered in the home has raised the question of whether they should be released for time served.
The Menendez brothers, now ages 53 and 55, are serving life sentences without possibility of parole at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California for a crime they committed in 1989.
Advocates including Rosie O’Donnell speculate the brothers’ convictions could be vacated or at least a judge could call for an evidentiary hearing based on recently discovered correspondence that outlines a history of abuse.
The breaking news about the listing at 722 North Elm Drive also raises the questions Guild and Richey love to ask: Would you list — or live in — a murder house?
722 North Elm Drive
A casual observer might not know right away that the 9,063-square-foot home at 722 North Elm Drive was once the scene of a gruesome murder.
From the listing:
“Elegant Mediterranean-style villa is located in the coveted Beverly Hills flats. This flawless seven-bed, nine-bath family home boasts high ceilings, a grand entry with a dramatic circular staircase, imported Italian limestone flooring, a gourmet kitchen complete with high-end appliances, and a walk-in pantry. The massive primary suite is complete with double baths and designer closets. The pool is surrounded by park-like grounds and a two-story guest house.”
The Menendez family originally moved from New Jersey to Mulholland Drive in Calabasas, Calif. The home on North Elm Drive where the murders occurred was a temporary residence while renovations were underway at the Calabasas home.
No mention of previous renters or that it’s the scene of the crime that was televised on Court TV in the 1990s is evident in the listing. Built in 1927, the property has had multiple owners and they likely knew what they were getting into. The home has been the subject of several news stories over the years.
The $19.99 million home at 722 North Elm Drive is listed by Amy Vertun of Rodeo Realty.
So would our local podcasting Realtor Heather Guild list or live in the home?
“Elena and I both agreed that we would list the house,” Guild told daltxrealestate.com. “it’s an incredible property despite the crimes that occurred there. That being said, I think the marketing would need to be very strategic in order to target the right buyer, and prevent an influx of people who just want to be voyeurs.”
But living there is a different matter, Guild added.
“As the mom of a teenage boy, I couldn’t live in the home,” she said. “The abuse that occurred there at the hands of Jose Menendez is just as, if not more, upsetting to me than the murder, and because of that, I don’t think I could ever feel the peace of being ‘at home’ in that house.”
The Menendez Brothers
When it comes to extensive research, the Crime Estate podcasters never let us down. The show notes from Guild’s Episode 27 feature extensive background on the case against Lyle and Erik Menendez, the homes in which they lived, and new evidence that has surfaced since the crime occurred in 1989.
Will the Menendez brothers get a new trial or be set free?
Richey and Guild think there at least will be an opportunity for a judge to evaluate the new evidence.
In the meantime, we’re waiting to see who buys 722 North Elm Drive.
