Menendez Modernized

The infamous home 35 years later.

Author

Homes.tastrophes
November 04, 2024

What’s up, friends?

This week’s 7-bed, 9-bath Beverly Hills, CA mansion once belonged to one of the most famous true-crime cases of the 1980s: the Menendez family.

Some people say they want a home with “history” or “character”, but I’m not sure if they mean this. 

The exterior hasn’t changed much since 1989:

Regardless of its history (which is hard to nudge aside), this is a stunning Mediterranean-style villa.

It still has the same high ceilings, large windows and even crown molding. I mean, they’re very pretty features of the home, hence why only the decor and railings have seemed to change.

Before you ask: here is the scene of the crime. Eerily, not much has been changed, just slightly updated.

Out of respect for the deceased, I will not provide the crime scene photos - but I will note that the Menendez family had an L-shaped couch in the exact same spot.

A peek throughout the rest of the home shows us more modern additions, including the wood furnishings and imported Italian limestone flooring.

I can’t wrap my head around wanting to own this home. Yes, it is/was gorgeous and a tear-down would be ungodly expensive in Los Angeles. At the same time, existing in the space where a murder took place… feels unsettling. Maybe the previous owners weren’t aware of the incident, but what if they were? 

In the state of California, you only need to disclose a death in the home within 3 years of its occurrence. Is it unethical to sell this home without disclosing its well-known history? Or to manipulate its pricing? There’s a lot of grey area here.

If only the outdated carpet was the scariest thing about this home…

The backyard is truly something to marvel at. While the guest house exterior hasn’t changed much, the backyard layout had a whole makeover. 

Personal tennis courts are out. Huge pools are in. But maybe a small game of pickleball would fit in the new yard space?

So, maybe the current state of this home isn’t a catastrophe… but its history is anything but that.

Catch the full video as I dive into the eerie historic details of the Menendez home on the Homes.tastrophes Instagram and TikTok account!

See you next week,

If you want to learn more about Beverly Hills, or any other neighborhood, check out the neighborhoods feature on Homes.com.