Highlights
- The Menendez brothers were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989.
- Despite life sentences, both Erik and Lyle Menendez found love and married in prison.
- Tammi Saccoman has been married to Erik Menendez for 25 years.
- Lyle Menendez has been married twice and is currently with Rebecca Sneed.
- Psychologists say women are often attracted to the emotional intensity of relationships with prisoners.
- New Netflix series Monsters has renewed interest in the Menendez brothers’ case and their marriages.
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, gained infamy for their brutal 1989 murder of their parents, shocking the world with the details of the crime.
Despite their life sentences without the possibility of parole, these men found love behind bars. But why would women marry convicted murderers?
Tammi Saccoman, now 63, married Erik Menendez in 1999 after reaching out to him during his trial.
Her path to this unusual relationship began after her own traumatic experience—her husband’s suicide following his arrest for molesting her daughter.
In her grief, she turned to Erik, believing she could provide comfort during his trial.
Their bond deepened, leading to a marriage that has endured 25 years without conjugal visits.
Similarly, Lyle Menendez has been married twice. His first marriage, to Anna Eriksson, ended after five years, but his current wife, Rebecca Sneed, a former magazine editor and now a lawyer, has remained by his side since 2003.
Despite the inability to share a physical relationship, both couples highlighted emotional intimacy and connection.
These women, including Tammi and Rebecca, often face harsh judgment from society, but their love stories reflect a desire for deep emotional connection and loyalty.
Psychologists explain that some women are attracted to notorious criminals because they feel they can “see” the real person beneath the crime.
In cases like these, the isolation and attention provided by the inmate can create a powerful bond.
