and that it was accomplished through a conspiracy into which lyle menendez entered with his brother, and that but for a few mistakes they made, this was almost the perfect murder. i knew that we could prove that the menendez brothers killed their parents. but i also started thinking about, okay, let's say i'm a sleazy defense lawyer and i'm going to make up a defense, what defense would i make up? and i said, i think they're going to fabricate a sexual abuse defense, because i can't think of any other reason why we're going to trial. and guess what? they did. >> erik menendez was the abused son of wealthy parents. >> leslie abramson was one of the most unpleasant people i've ever had to cover, and yet, i admired her, because she was ferocious for her client. not her clients -- it was erik who was her client. >> he killed his parents because he could no longer endure their abuse and had to stop it. we never argued that child abuse is an excuse for murder. what we argued is child abuse creates a terrible fear. this is not a child abuse trial. this is a murder trial. >> i pretty much kn

. >>> my name is lyle menendez. i've been in prison for 26 years. i am the kid that did kill his parents. and no river of tears has changed that. and no amount of regret has changed it. you are often defined by a few moments of your life. but that's not who you are in your life, you know? your life is your totality of it. if you survive it, you're left having to explain it and it's just almost impossible to explain. i think i will end up dying still being in the nightmare of this horrifying event and tragedy. >> bring down the berlin wall. ♪ >> lyle and erik menendez seemed to have it all. they lived in this fairy tale world of wealth and country clubs. they were top flight tennis players. one at princeton, the other heading to ucla. they were rich. the father was a powerful, hollywood executive. >> they had achieved the american dream. they were living in the mansion in beverly hills. they were living behind the gate. so, on the outside, to most people, this was the perfect all-american family. >> people assume that if you have money, you have no

. >> reporter: lyle menendez is 48, and he is more reflective. now, his life behind bars always shadowed with regret. >> it's still a failed, destructive ending. that's part of the tragedy of it. it could so easily had not have happened. >> fascinating. terry is with us now, and i'm curious. when was the last time these brothers talked to one another if at all? is there any chance they would get out of prison as they look forward? >> the last time they saw each other was about two weeks after bash -- barbra walters interviewed them, and they will probably never see each other again. and no. their appeals are exhausted. >> terry, thank you. and the abc news special, "truth and lies: the menendez brothers" airs tomorrow tonight 9:00 p.m. eastern right here. >>> when we come back here tonight, there is news about the flu and whether the flu shot covers it this year. also the states where we're seeing it first. >>> also that sinkhole threatening a neighborhood where nearly two dozen families are evacuated and two more homes condemned tonight. >>> and

> my name is lyle menendez. i have been in prison for 26 years. i am the kid that did kill his parents, and no river of tears has changed that and no amount of regret has changed it. >> reporter: beverly hills, 1989. jose and kitty menendez are brutally murdered. >> what's the problem? what's the problem? >> someone killed my parents! >> were they shot? >> yes. >> reporter: from the outside, brothers lyle and erik had it all. but behind closed doors, they describe a cauldron of secrets. >> tell me as clearly as you can why you murdered your paren. >> reporter: sitting down for an exclusive interview with barbara walters in 1996. >> i had said to myself i'm never gonna let my father touch me again. >> reporter: their defense and act of desperation after years of abuse at the hands of their father, but the judge found them guilty and they were sentenced to life in prison. >> my surprisingly well for the chaos of prison life. >> reporter: lyle menendez is 48, and he is more reflective. his life behind bars a shadow

facade. >> knew lyle menendez during the time of the trial he would call me from the l.a. county jail and found him to be a cold, somewhat sinister cunning person. he is different. you can hear it and you'll hear him from prison, a person that owns what he did. >> the abc news documentary truth and lies, american sons, american murderers airs at 9:00 on 6 abc and "action news" at 11:00 will follow. (sfx: rain and thunder) says it won't let up for a while. the cadillac xt5... what should we do? ...tailored to you. wait it out. equipped with apple carplay compatibility. ♪ get this low mileage lease on this cadillac xt5 from around $439 per month, or purchase with 1.9% apr financing. fios is not cable. we're wired differently. that means incredibly fast 150 meg internet. so in the 3.7 seconds it takes gary watson to beat the local sled jump record fly, gary, fly. ...his friend can download 13 different versions of the perfect song... ...his sister can live stream it... ...while his mom downloads how to set a dislocated shoulder, get 150 meg internet, tv and phone for just 7

the men mendez brothers. >> we'll have the interview with lyle menendez, the first time you'll get to hear him talk about why he did what he did. 10:00 p.m. eastern, hln. enjoy it. what do you say, a little "good stuff?" >> next. that's why i have the spark cash card from capital one. with it, i earn unlimited 2% cash back on all of my purchasing. and that unlimited 2% cash back from spark means thousands of dollars each year going back into my business... which adds fuel to my bottom line. what's in your wallet? >>> all right, harlow. time to restore your faith in humanity. by you, i mean me. "the good stuff," pay it forward friday literally. take a listen. >> i just want you to have a nice day. >> that's terry lafaver, going through depression, he even went broke. when he got back on his feet, he wanted to do something to help others in need. his idea, help them buy groceries. >> you never know what the perp is that you're getting for, what their life is like. >> terry usually tells the cashier in advance. the customer doesn't know who is footing the bill. in the end they always fin

lyle menendez. speaking out for the first time in 20 years about the murder of his parents in beverly hills only here on "gma." >>> new concerns about fumes on planes after seven american airlines flight attendants were sent to the hospital. we'll have more on that coming up in our big board. have more on that coming up in our big board. [microwave beeps] [heart monitor beeps] hasta luego, profesor! [pumping of bike tire] [pumping of hospital ventilator] [tapping of pen] [tapping of shoes] hey ramirez! un poquito mas rapido, no? [laughing] [wheel squeaking] hey carlos, mañana! carlos! carlos! dr. brad needs to see you in room 3. todo el dia! right this way... yes, one second- i'll be right there. ( ♪ ) ♪ they tell me i'm wrong ♪ ♪ to want to stand alongside my, my love ♪ ♪ whoa, talkin' 'bout my love ♪ big stories are the rain and how it's affecting your commute. we had really heavy downpours, now the rain out of here at least in the immediate bay area, but check it out, a lot of dens

. >>> it's the case that captured the attention of the country, the menendez brothers eric and lyle convicted of killing their wealthy parents. lyle is speaking out for the first time in 20 years. here's abc news reporter angelica spanos. >> reporter: 27 years after killing their parents, abc news uncovers the hidden family unrest that led eric and lyle menendez to their brutal crime. >> as i went into the room i just started firing. >> reporter: what was in front of you? >> my parents. >> reporter: it was the original trial of the century, a rich hollywood movie executive and his wife gunned down, execution style, inside their palatial beverly hills estate. >> if you looked at the menendez brothers as teenagers you saw spoiled rich kids spending out of control. >> if i kill my parents i don't think i'd buy a porsche that first week. >> reporter: in an abc exclusive hear from one of the convicted brothers, lyle menendez telling his side of the story from inside prison describing what was really going on inside that home. >> secrets upon secrets. i was just trapped in the same nightmare. >> re

lyle menendez. only here on "gma." >>> new concerns about fumes on planes after seven american airlines flight attendants were sent to the hospital. we'll have more on that coming up in our big board. [microwave beeps] [heart monitor beeps] hasta luego, profesor! [pumping of bike tire] [pumping of hospital ventilator] [tapping of pen] [tapping of shoes] hey ramirez! un poquito mas rapido, no? [laughing] [wheel squeaking] hey carlos, mañana! carlos! carlos! dr. brad needs to see you in room 3. todo el dia! right this way... yes, one second- i'll be right there. ( ♪ ) ♪ they tell me i'm wrong ♪ ♪ to want to stand alongside my, my love ♪ ♪ whoa, talkin' 'bout my love ♪ >> anchor: good morning, washington. i'm melanie hastings. here is a check of your stop stories. a woman is in police countdown after she was caught on surveillance cameras using a credit card off a missing man in bethesda. that woman turned herself in. she has been charged with fraud but police don't know how she got the

brothers" lyle menendez speaks for the first time since he and his brother erik were convicted of killing their wealthy parents 20 years ago. the details revealed at 9:00 here on abc. >> should be fascinating. >>> now to what's coming up tonight at 6:00 p.m. on abc 7. >> coming up at 6:00 with all the coverage of the big storm headed our way you'll be hearing about something called an atmospheric river. meteorologist drew tuma will show us what it is and why it's something to take seriously. >>> also a bay area man's effort to buy some shoes online, turned into a giant pain. michael finney explains what went wrong. >>> and something went seriously wrong in the east bay today, check out this gusher. we're going to show you what happened. that's coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. >> great, thanks, see you then. >>> finally tonight there's a happy outcome to a story we brought you yesterday about dozens of pets being turned in to the contra costa animal shelter in martinez. >> 42 pets brought in, 32 of them dogs. viewers are providing new homes for them. >> at least 12 were ado

it was the case of two young and rich men, erik and lyle menendez accused of the shotgun murders of their parents. >> i first saw him walk in the courtroom my blood went cold. >> reporter: but the real scene was inside the courtroom with prosecutors -- >> it will became apparent that this murder was unjustify. >> reporter: and defense attorneys hurling dueling claims. >> the origin of this killing was a lifetime of abuse at the hands of those same parents. >> reporter: prosecutors had strong evidence, graphic evidence of the crime is her after. >> reporter: experts -- and even a confession by the brothers to their therapist. >> did you ask them why they killed their mother? >> they felt they were putting their mother out of the misery. >> reporter: the ultimate question was, why they killed their parents. >> he killed the parents because he no longer endure the abuse. >> reporter: both brothers took the stand and told about the abuse. >> telling lyle what. >> my dad had been molesting me. >> you could hear a pin drop in the courtroom and that's when i thought, oh, darn, i'm in trouble. >>

. >> my name is lyle menendez. i have been in prison for 26 years. i am the kid that did kill his parents. no river of tears has changed that. no amount of regret has changed that. >> beverly hills is a quiet town. even the business district kind of folds up at 7:00. we average two murders a year. really don't know what you are in for when you get a murder call. >> what is the problem? >> someone killed my parents. >> were they shot? >> yes. >> when jose and kitty were found dead, the police didn't do what they normally do in a case like that. there are things that could have been done that night that would have proven they were the killers. the murder weapons were in their cars. nobody bothered to look. >> at the time we felt they were victims. you are not going to press them because their parents just got >> i remember it was the morning after murder. i pulled up to the house. all of a sudden the car door went open and eric jumped in and scared me. friends said they needed my husband's legal help. i said what is going on here? he says, "mrs. wright

. >>> lyle menendez one of two brothers convicted of killing their parents three decades, speaking to abc from behind bars what he is saying now. >>> consumer electronic shows we'll preview of the newest gadgets we're live in las vegas. and country music, hunter hayes is up next. sounds a good show. >> rob in's beautiful pink dress. >> reporter: this is the blue route, past route 30. moving nicely on i-95, a multi-vehicle accident with the tractor-trailer. no major delays on the blue route. mass transit is looking good, i want to warn you, septa saying the fox chase train is two cars short. 805, might have overcrowding issues. >> reporter: we're bundling the kids up. windchills in the upper teens and low 20s. this afternoon windchills in the 20s, as well. 24 in allentown. 23 in reading. 27 in wilmington. 29 in millville. 31 with the windchill. we'll have sun and clouds, noon, 32. 3:00 p.m., 35, that's the high, windchills in the 20s, back below freezing by 7:00 a.m. light snow moves in sooner on the models looks like anytime between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. it will be over quick with a

our political team's going to break it all down for us this morning and then an abc news exclusive, lyle menendez, one of the two brothers convicted of killing their parents nearly three decades ago is speaking to abc from behind bars. we're going to tell you what he is saying now and then the super bowl electronics show is kimming off today, we are previewing some of the hottest new gadgets, live in las vegas, not sure exactly what that guy is doing but it looks like he thinks he's flying. >> i do want that robot you just showed, though, because it's like a nanny and also will take a look at your pets when they're at home alone. >> compelling. >> i need that. thank you, amy. >>> the inauguration of donald trump may be infused with marijuana smoke. the dc cannabis coalition plans to hand out more than 4,000 free joints to people at the january 20 event in washington, d.c. and those who light up are asked to do so 4 minutes and 20 seconds into mr. trump's speech. that's, of course, 420, the code for consumption of weed. they are seeking equal rights for cannabis users, growers and their f

. >> lyle menendez was con viced with his brother of murdering their parents. a wealthy family. now he's speaking out for the first time in 20 years telling a new side to his story. >> reporter: for the first time in 20 years lyle mendes speaking out from prison. >> i'm the kid that did kill his parents. no amount of regret has changed it. >> 1989. jose and kitty are brutally murdered. >> what's the problem? what's the problem? >> someone killed my dad. >> were they shot? >> yes. >> from the outside, brothers lyle and erik had it all, but they describe a calderon of secrets. >> tell me as clearly as you can why you murdered your parents. >> sitting down for an exclusive interview with barbara walters in 1996. >> i have said to myself, i am never going to let my father touch me again. >> reporter: their defense, an act of debt precipitation after be -- desperation after years after abuse at the hands of their father, but they were sentenced to life in prison and found guilty. >> my own childhood prepared me surprisingly well for the chaos of prison life. >> reporter: lyle is 48 a

they seemed to have it all, but the menendez brother, lyle and eric, they made their mark with murder. killing their parents in their beverly hills mansion. >> the infamous crime and the sensational trial that followed dominated headlines in the 1990s. well, now hln's new original series "how it really happened with hill harper" is taking a closer look. >> the defense may call its next witness. >> lyle was the first one to take the stand. even just hearing his voice was dramatic for everyone because it's very rare that you would get to hear from the mouth of someone who has committed a murder exactly how that murder went down. >> we just burst through the doors, and i start firing. >> they sat there matter of factually and explained that they did it. >> i entered the room. i saw two people in the room, and i just started firing. >> oh, my gosh. how many people would do that? >> i just fired until there was nothing left. >> there was things shattering and the noise was phenomenal. just chaos. >> so now the host of how it really happened with hill harper, hill harper, is joining us righ