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The intriguing story of Erik Menendez and his brother Lyle, who are convicted for the brutal murder of their parents, can compete with any crime drama series. But it is the 53-year-old’s romantic life and marriage that has been ringing in people’s ears, with the theme song of “Mama I’m in love with a criminal”.
Erik Menendez and brother Lyle | image: Celano via Reuters (CNN)According to reports from several outlets, as well as a self-published memoir, They Said We’d Never Make It: My Life with Erik Menendez, it is Tammi Ruth Saccoman who captured public fascination for her romantic association with Erik Menendez. Despite being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, what could have brought the two close? Well, their unexpected love story is one steeped in tragedy, trauma, and healing.
The Unconventional Bond of Erik Menendez and Tammi Ruth Saccoman
Convicted of the murder of their parents José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989, Erik Menendez (53) and his brother Lyle (56) have been serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, since 1996. Yet, within the confines of prison walls, the brothers have found unconventional bonds with their respective wives.
However, it is particularly Erik Menendez’s unexpected relationship with Tammi Ruth Saccoman that has been making rounds on the internet. Following the release of her self-published memoir They Said We’d Never Make It: My Life with Erik Menendez, which informed the 2010 A&E documentary, Mrs. Menendez, Saccoman has been captivating public interest.
Erik Menendez and Tammi Ruth Saccoman | image: ABC News (The Cinemaholics)According to reports from Today, Tammi Ruth Saccoman and Erik Menendez have been married since 1999, although neither of the brothers is eligible for conjugal visits. Apparently, their relationship began after the duo started communicating through letters while he was in prison. And it was through their letters that the couple created a bond that challenged conventional notions of love and companionship.
Although people questioned the soundness of Tammi Ruth Saccoman’s mind, especially since she had a daughter of her own (from a previous unnamed partner), she noted that their relationship was marked by a shared understanding of pain and the search for solace. Saccoman described herself as a steadfast supporter while speaking of Menendez as a caring partner despite his past.
What Inspired Tammi Ruth Saccoman to Reach Out to the Convicted Murderer
Meanwhile, it is not their commitment to one another that intrigued netizens, it’s rather the reason behind their connection that fascinated people and got them hooked on Tammi Ruth Saccoman and Erik Menendez’s relationship. According to Saccoman’s interview with People Magazine, her decision to reach out to Menendez, despite his criminal background, stemmed from her own harrowing experiences.
As per Today, during their first trials in 1993, Erik Menendez and his brother Lyle had revealed about being s*xually abused by their parents, which influenced their drastic steps. However, during the second trial in 1995, the brothers’ evidence was not allowed. Addressing this very topic, Tammi Ruth Saccoman told People Magazine how she initially harbored doubts about the veracity of the Menendez brothers’ evidence.
Tammi Ruth Saccoman in 1999 | image: Chris Morton via Online USA, Inc (Business Insider) But it wasn’t until 1996, when she learned about how her then-husband had been s*xually abusing her daughter (who was his step-daughter), Tammi Ruth Saccoman admitted that her opinion shifted. After enduring a traumatic marriage marred by abuse—particularly toward her daughter from her ex-husband—Saccoman claimed to find herself seeking connection with someone who had faced his own demons.
Her ex-husband’s eventual suicide following his arrest left Tammi Ruth Saccoman grappling with loss and the responsibility of raising her daughter as well as their young infant alone. It was this experience of familial betrayal and survival that compelled her to reach out to Erik Menendez, whose story resonated deeply with her own. Eventually, this shared narrative of abuse became the foundation for their relationship, allowing them both to overcome their trauma and find love amid chaos.
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