5 Shocking Facts About The Menendez Murder Mansion's Current Status (And Its $17 Million Sale)
The Menendez house is still standing. In a shocking twist for a property forever stained by one of America’s most infamous patricides, the Beverly Hills mansion where Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on August 20, 1989, remains a fixture on the exclusive street of Elm Drive. As of today, December 12, 2025, the Mediterranean-style villa has not been demolished; instead, it has become a subject of intense public fascination, especially following a blockbuster sale and the resurgence of true crime interest.
The infamous residence, located at 722 North Elm Drive, continues its life as a private property, albeit one with a chilling and undeniable history. Far from being torn down or left abandoned, the sprawling estate has recently undergone significant changes, including a multi-million dollar transaction and the beginning of a major transformation, proving that even the darkest histories can't deter the allure of prime Beverly Hills real estate and a staggering 9,063 square feet of living space.
The Menendez Murder Mansion: A Complete Property Profile and Recent History
The house at 722 North Elm Drive is more than just a location for a notorious crime; it is a significant piece of Beverly Hills real estate with a complex biography.
- Full Address: 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, California, 90210.
- Style and Size: A 9,063-square-foot, Mediterranean-style villa.
- Original Build Date: 1927.
- Key Renovation: The house was redesigned in 1984, before the murders.
- Victims: Jose Menendez (45) and Mary "Kitty" Menendez (47).
- Perpetrators: Their sons, Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez.
- Date of Murders: August 20, 1989.
- Sale After Murders: The house was sold for $3.5 million in 1993, well below its estimated value at the time, reflecting the difficulty of selling a "stigmatized property."
- Most Recent Sale Date: March 20, 2024.
- Most Recent Sale Price: A staggering $17,000,000.
- Current Status: Vacant and undergoing renovation.
- Current Owners: Reported to be the Lahijanis, a wealthy Iranian family.
The Menendez House is Still Standing: 5 Shocking Facts About Its Current Status
The question of "is the Menendez house still standing" is often met with the assumption that a property with such a gruesome past would have been razed to the ground. However, the reality is far more complex and involves a high-stakes real estate market, celebrity true crime fascination, and the challenge of owning a piece of dark history.
1. It Sold for a Staggering $17 Million in 2024
Despite its history as the site of a double murder, the Menendez mansion sold for an astonishing $17 million in March 2024. This price tag is a testament to the enduring value of location in Beverly Hills, where the property sits on a half-acre lot in the exclusive 90210 zip code. The sale, which occurred 28 years to the day after the brothers were convicted, proves that even the most infamous "murder houses" can command top dollar in a hot market. The transaction highlights a key real estate concept: while the property is legally "stigmatized," its prime location and architectural grandeur ultimately outweighed the negative associations for the right buyer. The new owners, the Lahijanis, reportedly purchased the home for its land value and location, rather than its history.
2. The House is Currently Undergoing a Major Renovation
Following the significant 2024 sale, the mansion is currently vacant and undergoing a substantial renovation. This transformation is likely an effort by the new owners to not only modernize the 1927-built structure but also to physically and symbolically erase the remnants of its dark past. While the structure itself is still standing, the interior layout, finishes, and overall ambiance are being completely overhauled. This process is a common practice for buyers of historically significant, yet notorious, properties—a way to create a fresh start and minimize the psychological impact of the home's history. The goal is to transform the "murder mansion" back into a luxurious, anonymous Beverly Hills estate.
3. The Netflix Effect Turned It Into a 'Tourist Trap'
The resurgence of interest in the Menendez case, largely fueled by the 2024 Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has had a direct and disruptive impact on the Elm Drive neighborhood. The house has become a "murder mansion tourist trap," drawing true crime fans and curiosity seekers from around the world. This influx of visitors—often stopping to take photos, film videos, and peer over the gates—has been a source of frustration for the new owners and the surrounding community. For a home that has been occupied, and largely quiet, for decades since the crime, the renewed media spotlight has brought an unwanted level of public scrutiny and intrusion, forcing the owners to take measures to ensure their privacy during the renovation.
4. The Infamous Den is Still Part of the Floor Plan
The most chilling detail for true crime aficionados is the fate of the den, the room where Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot. While the house has been sold and renovated multiple times since the murders, the physical space of the den remains a part of the home's floor plan. The den was the central location of the crime, and its continued existence within the structure is a permanent, albeit invisible, reminder of the violence that occurred there. While the new owners may have completely redesigned the space—changing the flooring, walls, and furnishings—the structural footprint of the room is still there, integrated into the 9,063-square-foot layout.
5. It Has Never Been Vacant for Long Since the Murders
A common misconception is that the Menendez house sat empty for decades, haunted by its past. In reality, the house was only left unoccupied for a few years immediately following the murders and the subsequent trial. It was sold in 1993 and has been occupied by various owners over the years, who have lived in the home despite its notorious past. This fact is a powerful counterpoint to the typical narrative of "murder houses" being impossible to sell or live in. The continuous chain of occupancy demonstrates the powerful draw of a prime Beverly Hills location and the ability of wealthy buyers to compartmentalize a home's dark history.
The True Crime Legacy of 722 N Elm Drive
The Menendez case is a cornerstone of modern true crime, and the mansion at 722 North Elm Drive is its physical monument. The story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, their privileged upbringing, the shotgun murders of their parents, and the subsequent sensational trials captivated the nation in the 1990s and continues to do so today. The house represents the ultimate betrayal of the American Dream—a facade of wealth and perfection hiding a core of dysfunction and violence.
The property will forever be associated with the key entities involved in the case:
- Jose Menendez: The successful entertainment executive and patriarch.
- Kitty Menendez: The socialite and matriarch.
- Lyle Menendez: The older brother, convicted of first-degree murder.
- Erik Menendez: The younger brother, also convicted of first-degree murder.
- Leslie Abramson: Erik's high-profile defense attorney.
- Judi Henderson-Hass: The first realtor who struggled to sell the "stigmatized" property in the 90s.
- Judge Stanley Weisberg: The presiding judge in the second, successful trial.
The fact that the mansion is still standing, still selling for millions, and still drawing crowds proves that the morbid curiosity surrounding the Menendez brothers and the tragedy of August 1989 is a permanent fixture in American pop culture. The ongoing renovation is not just a structural change; it is the latest chapter in the mansion's long, dark, and fascinating story.
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