Netflix’s new limited series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” has sparked renewed interest in the infamous case that gripped the nation in the 1990s.

This series dramatizes the tragic murders of José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez at the hands of their sons Lyle and Erik Menendez in August 1989. It is the second part of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” anthology, which started with “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” in 2022.

The show portrays the experiences of Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez, played by Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, leading up to the murders and the ensuing trial. The case created a whirlwind of speculation and controversy, earning a notorious status in true crime history.

Critics, including co-creator Ryan Murphy, have faced backlash over purported inaccuracies in the series, with claims that the Menendez family’s version of events is filled with “lies.”

One of the intriguing topics among viewers has been the truth regarding Lyle Menendez’s suspected hair loss and the use of hairpieces. Curious about what’s fact and what’s fiction? Here’s what we have learned.

What takes place in the scene?

In “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story,” a significant scene unfolds during a family dinner.

In this moment, 20-year-old Lyle expresses his desire to marry his girlfriend, leading to a heated argument with his parents, who believe he is too young for such a commitment.

When Lyle points out that his parents had married at his age, Kitty, played by Chloë Sevigny, angrily yanks off his hairpiece, revealing an almost completely bald head beneath it.

Feeling embarrassed, Lyle flees to the guesthouse to fix it, followed by his brother Erik. This moment in the show turns into an emotional connection between the brothers, leading them to reveal the abuse they endured from their father and vow to support one another.

This pivotal moment is positioned as one of the final triggers that led to the tragic murders.

Fact or fiction: Did Lyle Menendez use wigs?

Yes, Lyle Menendez did wear hairpieces, a fact he openly acknowledged during his court testimony. He recounted a heated exchange with his mother that occurred just five days before the murders.

During his testimony, he mentioned that the argument “definitely had something to do with my hairpiece,” describing how his mother was “out of control, flailing her arms and screaming” when she suddenly grabbed and tore it off.

Lyle explained that he used a special solvent glue to attach the hairpiece to his scalp, and the abrupt removal was painful, as the detachment process required “this blue chemical” for a safe removal.

“[My brother] didn’t know I had a hairpiece,” he admitted. “I felt completely humiliated in front of him.”

Lyle shared that he began losing his hair around age 14, and it was his father who suggested he wear a wig. Reports and Robert Rand’s book “The Menendez Murders” reveal that Lyle became very self-conscious about his hair loss, particularly as his father emphasized the importance of looking good for success at Princeton and beyond.

He reportedly had to shave the top of his head to properly affix the toupee, which Vanity Fair once valued at over $1,450 (the equivalent of over $3,000 today). Lyle supposedly owned several expensive hairpieces. After being incarcerated, he was prohibited from wearing wigs, which is evident in his recent mugshots showing him completely bald. Although he couldn’t wear the wig in jail, he was permitted to wear it during the trial.

While the Netflix portrayal suggests Lyle was nearly bald at that point in his life, testimonies and accounts from “The Menendez Murders” suggest he was more likely beginning to thin instead of being completely bald at the time.

Why is this significant?

Many believe that the incident involving the hairpiece may have contributed to the chain of events leading to the murders of José and Kitty Menendez.

As narrated in the brothers’ accounts and the documentary “The Menendez Murders,” Erik followed his brother to the guesthouse to fix his toupee, which their mother had pulled off in real life.

In the guesthouse, the two brothers reportedly shared their struggles about the secrets they had kept from one another. Erik revealed that he had been a victim of sexual abuse by their father, a claim both brothers made against José during the trial. They also allegedly made plans for Erik to move in with his brother when he left for Princeton.

The claims of abuse, which the brothers indicated went beyond just sexual misconduct, were crucial to the trial and were heavily referenced by the defense. Ultimately, both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, resulting in life sentences without the possibility of parole.