‘Monsters’ Revisits Dominique Dunne’s Murder During the Menendez Brothers Season: What You Should Know

Netflixs Monster re-examined Dominique Dunnes brutal murder while scouting her father Dominick Dunne‘s connection to the infamous Menéndez brothers case.

In the seventh episode, released on Thursday, September 19, audiences learn why author Dominick Dunne (Nathan Lane) was personally influenced by Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik Menéndez’ (Cooper Koch) murdered her parents.

“My ex-wife and I had two daughters before Dominique, but both died in infancy. This made Dominique our miracle daughter – our angel. We always assumed she would bury us. That’s how it should be,” the fiction Dominick explained as footage was shown of his daughter being taken off life support. “I was convinced that this would be the most difficult moment of the entire ordeal and of our entire lives. But I was wrong. Far worse was watching the trial of (her murderer) John Sweeney and how the defense tried to portray him as the perpetrator. “Victim.”

Dominick covered the Menéndez murder trial in 1993, after the brothers were accused of killing their parents José and Kitty. Erik and Lyle were initially tried separately as they claimed years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse led them to shoot their mother and father.

See how the cast of Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez compares to their real-life counterparts

The case ended in a mistrial as the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision. A retrial began in 1995, and Erik and Lyle were tried together. They were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

On the show and in real life, Dominick covered the high-profile trial Vanity Fair as he mourns the loss of his daughter. Seven years before the Menéndez brothers killed their parents, Dominique was strangled by Sweeney. She fell into a coma and died five days later. Sweeney was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served three and a half years in prison.

“That’s why I never believe a word that comes out of a defense attorney’s mouth,” Lane added as Dominick during a scene in “Monsters.” “(They will do whatever it takes to help their client). Even if it means desecrating the memory of the true victims, which is tantamount to a second murder.”

Keep scrolling for a breakdown of Dominique’s case and where Sweeney ended up after his release from prison:

Who was Dominique?

The late actress was the youngest child of Ellen Griffin Dunne and Dominick. She made her screen debut in Diary of a teenage hitchhiker before scoring roles Family And Break away. She rose to fame after starring in the 1982 horror film poltergeist as Dana. The last roles she filmed before her death later that year were The Shadow Riders And CHiPs.

What was the story between Dominique and Sweeney?

The couple began dating in 1981 after meeting at a party. Dominique and Sweeney moved in together weeks later, but their relationship faced many problems. According to Dominique’s relatives, they argued frequently, and in August 1982, Sweeney’s physical abuse resulted in a handful of hair being torn from her scalp. Dominique ran to her mother’s house and Sweeney followed her. He demanded entry before Ellen threatened to call the police.

Dominique and Sweeney reconciled days later. In September 1982, another argument occurred in which Sweeney attempted to strangle Hair before a friend intervened. Sweeney denied trying to kill Dominique, who left their home. Dominique then ended the relationship after the incident and stayed in her house while Sweeney moved out.

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How did Dominique die?

In October 1982, Sweeney showed up at Dominique’s house while she was in conversation with her co-star David Packer. Dominique agreed to talk to him on the porch, but after some strange noises, Packer ran out and saw Sweeney kneeling over Dominique’s unconscious body.

Sweeney admitted to police when they arrived that he had killed Dominique and had also attempted to harm himself. In his statement, Sweeney recalled arguing with Dominique, but claimed he could not remember what happened or how he ended up strangling her.

Dominique, who was on life support, never regained consciousness due to lack of oxygen. Her parents withdrew her from life support after doctors discovered there was no brain activity.

What was the outcome of Sweeney’s trial?

Sweeney was arrested and charged with attempted murder, but after Dominique’s death the charge was upgraded to first-degree murder. Sweeney, who pleaded not guilty, was later charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after admitting an earlier incident in which Dominique was injured during an argument. However, Sweeney denied being the one who attacked Dominique, instead saying she accidentally sustained bruises on her face and body during the fight.

During the trial, prosecutors called one of Sweeney’s ex-girlfriends: Lillian Pierceto testify about how she suffered a perforated eardrum and a collapsed lung during one of his alleged assaults. Judge Katz granted the motion to rule Pierce’s testimony inadmissible, and the jury did not learn of her statements until after the trial.

Sweeney was acquitted of second-degree murder but found guilty of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was also convicted of negligent bodily harm in connection with the incident between him and Dominique in September 1982 and was ultimately sentenced to six years in prison for negligent homicide and an additional six months in prison for bodily harm.

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What happened after the conviction?

Sweeney served two and a half years of his six and a half year sentence before being released on parole. He got a job as a chef at a restaurant in California ahead of Dominique’s family – including her brother Griffin Dunne – protested in front of the establishment until he gave up and moved out of Los Angeles.

Griffin revealed in his June 2024 memoir: The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoirthat an extra on set had previously offered to have Sweeney murdered in prison. Griffin thought about it for 24 hours but ultimately said no.

According to Dominick, the family initially hired a private investigator to keep an eye on Sweeney. Last they heard, he was still working as a chef under the name John Maura, but Dominick eventually stopped asking for updates.

Before his death in 2009, Dominick wrote about the Dominique murder trial Vanity Fair based on diaries he kept throughout the ordeal. He was originally a Hollywood producer known for films like 1970s The guys in the band and 1971s The Panic in Needle Park. Dominick not only reported on the Menéndez trial but also wrote about it OJ Simpson Attempts in 1995 and Phil Spector‘s trial in 2007.

Dominique’s mother Ellen and activist Marcella Leachhis daughter Marsalee Nichols was murdered in 1983 and co-founded the nonprofit organization Justice for Homicide Victims in honor of her daughters.