Lyle Menéndez and his brother, Erik Menéndez, became infamous for their highly publicized 1993 trial over the murders of their parents. The brothers shot and killed their mother, Mary Louise “Kitty,” and father, José, claiming they were victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents. Despite their life sentences, the Menendez brothers still attracted significant attention from women. In fact, the brothers got married while behind bars. Lyle wed his second wife in the early 2000s after divorcing his first wife.
Here’s everything to know about Lyle’s relationship history with two women while serving his life sentence.
Who is Anna Erikkson?
Lyle’s first wife, Anna Eriksson, was born in Chicago and began modeling as a teen for Lord & Taylor before transitioning to modeling in Europe during the 1980s, as she told PEOPLE in 1996.
Eriksson explained that she first wrote to Lyle during his trial, sending a message that read, “Hang tough,” which started their correspondence. “All I can say is that we’ve connected, even though we’ve never touched,” she told the outlet. Eriksson moved to L.A. to be closer to Lyle, and they were married on July 2, 1996, just before he and his brother were convicted of their parents’ murders.
However, the Los Angeles Times reported that the California Department of Corrections did not “recognize the wedding” and deemed it “not a legal marriage” since it took place over the phone. On April 1, 2001, it was announced that Lyle and Anna had filed for divorce. Eriksson reportedly decided to end their marriage after discovering Lyle’s romantic involvement with another woman — Rebecca Sneed.
Who is Rebecca Sneed?
Similar to Eriksson, Menendez and Sneed began their relationship through letters.
On November 20, 2003, Lyle married Rebecca, a former magazine editor who had transitioned into a defense attorney from Sacramento. They had been corresponding for nearly a decade before their wedding, which took place in the visiting area of California’s Mule Creek State Prison.
Despite the challenges of their unique situation, Lyle described his marriage to Sneed as “healthy” and “built around finding creative ways to communicate.” During ABC’s Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers, he shared, “I’ve found I can have a healthy marriage that is complicated and built around conversation and finding creative ways to communicate, sharing, without all the props that are normally there in marriage in terms of going out to dinner and having as much intimate time together and so on.”
He added, “One thing I’ve learned is that your physical comfort is much less important than your connection with the people around you.”
During an interview with PEOPLE, Lyle explained, “Our interaction tends to be very free of distractions, and we probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do. We try and talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day. I have a very steady, involved marriage that helps sustain me and brings much peace and joy. It’s a counter to the unpredictable, very stressful environment here.”
Acknowledging the challenges Rebecca faced, Lyle said, “People are judgmental, and she has to put up with a lot. But she has the courage to deal with the obstacles. It would be easier to leave, but I’m profoundly grateful that she doesn’t.”
Is Lyle Menendez Still Married?
According to Rebecca, she and Lyle separated “a while” ago, she wrote in a Facebook post on November 22, 2024, per E! News.
“Lyle and I have been separated for a while now but remain best friends and family,” Rebecca explained in her Facebook post. “I continue to run his Facebook pages, with input from him, and I am forever committed to the enduring fight for Lyle and Erik’s freedom, as has been so evident over the years.”
After vowing to keep supporters updated on Erik and Lyle’s upcoming hearing, Rebecca clarified, “This is NOT a cheating scandal.” She was seemingly referring to the online rumors that her estranged husband had cheated on her with a younger woman.
Rebecca’s social media post contradicts what Lyle said about their marriage weeks prior. According to a statement obtained by NBC News, Lyle reflected on his experience being a husband while still in prison.
“This coming November will be my 20th wedding anniversary,” Lyle wrote in his statement. “Learning to be a husband and a partner from inside a prison has been challenging. It has also changed my life in so many positive ways. … Her unwavering support and belief in me is something I am most grateful for and has played no small part in my journey to be a better person.”
Is Erik Menendez Married?
As for Lyle’s brother, Erik, he has been married to his wife, Tammi Saccoman, since 1999. Erik met Tammi while in prison, and the two began their relationship through letters.
