I'm Gonna Miss You Baby

Six

I got a call today from Leslie Abramson, she told me the boys told her and Lyle's attorney Jill Lansing that I had details to back up their stories.

Jill and Leslie are coming over today because no one home

I cleaned up and made sure I looked put together and when they came I made sure they felt comfortable

"Angela, first I'd like to start by asking how you know the Menendez family?" Leslie asked me

"I grew up with them in New Jersey, our families were very very close, we'd spend Christmas together, and birthdays, whatever holiday it was we did together, we'd be together all the time. Then when Erik was about 15 and Lyle and I were 18 they moved to Calabasas and I didn't see most of them for a year, Lyle started at Princeton that fall and so did I so we were attached at the hip for that whole school year, but after my first year I dropped out and Jose told my parents that they'd be moving to Beverly Hills, he offered my Dad a job to move here too. Lyle got suspended after his first year so he was back to California. " I told her

she nodded taking notes

"Erik told me you are one of the only people he told about what was going on in his house, what exactly did he tell you and when" Leslie asked me

I sighed shakily "Um, Erik was about 8 and I was 10. We were at his house sitting in the backyard and he told me his Dad was touching him" I told Leslie swallowing hard remembering "He said he didn't like it and he felt uncomfortable and I knew it was wrong, I told my mom but she brushed it off and didn't pay much attention to it because we were so young. I didn't know it was still happening until Halloween of 1989, Lyle told me when I asked why they killed their parents" Tears started to fall but I quickly wiped them.

"I didn't know it ever happened to Lyle until that night either" I added "He also told me that Jose would hit them, that would be brought up all the time because my parents do that to me too, so, it was like something we could relate to, which is terrible I know but, we all knew we'd be there for each other" I explained Leslie nodded

"Sorry if I cry, I just care so much for them and talking about this hurts to hear back" I sniffled a little "It's ok" Leslie smiled a little

"Lyle mentioned you're in law school," Leslie told me "Yeah, my third year now at Stanford" I nodded "Do you think that'll be of any help during this case?" Jill asked me "Maybe, I mean I can for sure make you guys look good, and the brothers" I nodded

"Lyle said he told you what happened to him, how and when did he tell you?" Leslie asked me

"Like I mentioned he never told me until Halloween 1989 about two months after they killed their parents.  I asked him why they did it because I felt like it had to do with the abuse they endured but I wanted to hear it from one of them. He had this look on his face, like, he was hurt before he even said anything, and then when he said his father raped him he broke into tears, I'd never, ever seen him like this before but there he was" I felt the tears again

"Did you ever have reason to believe that Jose Menendez was going to kill Lyle and Erik?" Leslie asked me "Many times yes. There were times they'd beg me to come over so nothing would happen to them. Mrs. Menendez would often talk about guns, and around me which is... I think it's a little crazy, I mean I know she was close with my family but... anyways um they told me she had this handgun with a silencer, she'd mentioned it to me too even saying it'd fit in her purse" I explained

"Then the day before the murder the boys and their family were supposed to go on a shark fishing trip, which is odd because Jose and Kitty were never really into that type of thing. It got pushed back to late afternoon evening-ish. Erik called me in a panic and begged that I come, but I couldn't that night and all night was just so worried about them. After I told Erik I couldn't come Lyle called me about a half hour later telling me every detail, time of departure, where the boat was leaving from, what time it was supposed to come back, everything and I told him to call me as soon as he got home so I stayed up waiting for his call and when I got it all I felt was relief" I told them

"would Erik ever show up at your house when he was young?" Leslie asked me "All the time, I guess he was trying to run away or escape, I'd keep him in my room for a day to two if he got lucky and again he was little like 8, 9, he'd tell me was happening and I'd tell my parents but they wouldn't do anything like I said they were very close with the Menendez's. I only lived a block or two down from them so he wasn't hard to find" I told her

"Was there a difference between the way Jose would treat the boys?" Leslie asked me "Uh yeah, Lyle he held to such a high standard, he spoke highly of him, he expected highly of him, he was his star child that he had so much hope for. Erik he... he kinda just didn't care much for. He was rude, and hard on him, and pushed him to be more like Lyle. He would come to me crying some days telling me that he just couldn't take it, his whole family was ganging up on him and there was nothing he could do about it" I explained "By whole family, does that include Lyle?" Leslie questioned "Yeah, he wasn't as bad but he definitely had a different tone and attitude when talking to Erik, for a while at least" I nodded

"Ok, and you were there on the night they killed their parents, Correct?" Leslie asked me "I was with them after" I nodded

"Thank you, Angela, will you be able to testify any of this in court?" Leslie asked "All of it, yes, all I want is for them to get the justice they deserve, and that is not in jail," I told her

"Well, thank you again, we'll keep in touch," Leslie said standing up "Of course, anything either of you guys need I'll help," I told them walking them out