USA Update

ERIK Menendez’s wife has revealed he is “overwhelmed” by the support he has received as a trial decision nears.

Tammi Menendez was speaking as brothers Lyle and Erik faced the possibility of freedom after more than 30 years in prison.

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Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of their parents[/caption]

ABC News

Tammi and Erik Menendez married in prison in 1999[/caption]

Reuters

Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, has called for the brothers to be released[/caption]

On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez, then 21 and 18 respectively, shot their parents dead in their mansion in Los Angeles, California.

Their father, Jose Menendez, was a successful 45-year-old entertainment executive, while mother Kitty, 47, was a homemaker.

After gunning down their parents, the siblings splashed out on designer clothes, Rolex watches, and luxury cars using their family’s $14 million fortune.

Following a mistrial in their first trial, the brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 without the possibility of parole.

Interest in the siblings’ case has spiked again in recent years in the wake of Ryan Murphy’s drama series, a number of prominent crime documentaries, and ongoing coverage on social media from true crime obsessives.

Earlier this month, LA County District Attorney George Gascon announced that his office is reevaluating the Menendez brothers’ convictions based on new evidence.

Calls for the brothers to be freed were amplified when a new bombshell letter supposedly written in 1988 came to light after decades.

The letter, included in a filing to the Los Angeles Superior Court last year, seemed to back up the brothers’ claims that they committed the murders in self-defense after years of abuse from their parents.

“I’ve been trying to avoid Dad. It’s still happening Andy but it’s worse for me now,” the handwritten letter, written by Erik, says in part.

“I never know when [the abuse] is going to happen and it’s driving me crazy. Every night, I stay up thinking he might come in.”

Another piece of new evidence was revealed when pop band member Roy Rosselló said that he was sexually abused by José Menendez in the 2023 Peacock docuseries Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.

The siblings have never denied killing their parents, but have always maintained they acted in self-defense, and that they had suffered years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

This week, relatives of Lyle and Erik made impassioned pleas for the brothers to be released.

On Wednesday evening, the wife of Erik Menendez, Tammi, spoke out to thank supporters and family members for keeping the case in the spotlight.

“Erik feels deeply grateful and profoundly humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support from his family today,” she wrote on X.

“Their belief in him and encouragement, care, and understanding mean more to him than words can express.”

Tammi “Saccoman” Menendez was married to her previous husband Chuck Saccoman when she began following the brothers’ first trial on TV back in 1993.

She wrote a sympathetic letter to Erik in prison and, to her surprise, he wrote back.

Chuck would tragically die in June 1996, a month before the Menendezes were sentenced to life in prison.

Erik invited Tammi to visit him at Folsom State Prison, where they met in person for the first time in August 1997.

In a 2005 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Tammi said she was attracted to Erik from the moment she met him, despite being scared to visit him at a maximum-security prison.

They continued their visits for the next six months and, in 1998, Erik proposed.

The couple married on June 12, 1999, in Folsom Prison.

Erik feels deeply grateful and profoundly humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support from his family today.

Tammi MenendezErik Menendez's wife

Earlier this year, Tammi marked their 25th wedding anniversary, thanking Erik on TikTok for his support.

Tammi was one of the two dozen relatives who gathered for a press conference this week in front of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

A hearing for the brothers’ case is scheduled for November 29.

Others included Anamaria Baralt, José’s niece; Joan Andersen VanderMolen, Kitty’s sister; Brian Andersen Jr., José’s nephew; and Karen Vandermolen, the brothers’ cousin.

“I struggled to process the events of that fateful August day and the loss I felt,” Anamaria said.

“Over time, it became clear that there were two other victims that day – my cousins, Lyle and Erik.”

Joan Andersen added that she believes the brothers “were failed by the very people who should have protected them,” including their parents and society at large.

But she believes changing attitudes in the past 30 years have been partly responsible for the reevaluation of the case.

“The whole world was not ready to believe boys could be raped or that young men could be victims of sexual violence,” she said.

“Today, we know better. We know that abuse has long-lasting effects, and victims of trauma sometimes act in ways that are very difficult to understand.”

A number of high-profile figures including Kim Kardashian – who has visited them in prison – have called for the brothers to be released, with thousands of videos on TikTok backing up the campaign.

But not everyone has rushed to their defense.

In a UK documentary earlier this month, Pamela Bozanich, who prosecuted the brothers in their first trial, slammed the Menendez brothers’ new status as “social media stars.”

“The idea that these delicate flowers did this thoughtless act of killing mommy and daddy, it’s nauseating,” she told the program.

“They lied and lied and lied. They’ve always been liars. And they planned the murder out meticulously. And they planned out the defense meticulously.”

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Tammi Menendez met Erik after writing a letter to him in prison[/caption]

AP

The brothers claim they acted in self-defense when they shot dead their parents in 1989[/caption]

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There has been increased scrutiny on the Menendez brothers’ case in recent years[/caption]

In his new memoir, the "Godfather" star revealed the woman "said straight out, 'I’m kidnapping you'" after they met at a bar.

In August, the actor shared a rare glimpse into life with his "magic" 21-year-old, whom he welcomed in 2003 with then-girlfriend Kim Bordenave.

A QUARTER of Americans are not certain that they’d pass their driver’s written exam if they were asked to retake it now, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 adults who drive examined how savvy respondents are about the road and their car, finding that just 40% are absolutely certain that they remember and follow all of the safety precautions they learned about when first starting to drive.

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

Some drivers even acknowledged they would fail the license test if they had to retake the exam[/caption]

When it comes to their car, respondents have spent quite a bit of time together, averaging about five years of use; one in five have held onto their vehicle for at least twice that amount of time.

After having their car for so long, the average driver claims to be able to understand about 78% of the dashboard indicators and warning lights, with males feeling more confident in their ability to do so (82% vs. 76%).

The survey conducted by Talker Research for LIQUI MOLY put this knowledge to the test.

While respondents were confident and correctly able to identify their oil pressure warning light (79%) and check engine light (64%), the test revealed that there’s certainly more to learn.

Just half of those surveyed were able to correctly name the temperature warning light (51%), and 47% were able to pick out the tire pressure warning light.

Across the board, respondents lack knowledge when it comes to the brake system warning light, which only 16% identified, while 40% revealed that they weren’t sure.

Further, only 22% got the transmission temperature warning light correct, and another 23% confused it with the temperature warning light.

“Cars are an important part of our daily lives, and many of us rely on them,” said Steffen Niemietz, application engineer at LIQUI MOLY.

“To prevent further damage, you should know what to do when a warning light lights up — especially if you are not familiar with it.

“And that is taking the car to the workshop for a professional check as soon as possible. Not only for the sake of your car but for your safety, too.”

When asked about the current state of their car, 43% admit that there are dashboard warning lights lit up.

On average, respondents will wait five days after a warning light turns on before dealing with it, with Gen Z and millennials waiting slightly longer — about a week — before getting to the issue.

In the event an unfamiliar dashboard light turns on, nearly a quarter of respondents would look for easy answers online (23%).

Although 43% of drivers said they’d check the owner’s manual first, 15% shared that they’re not at all familiar with the contents of the book.

Yet, 74% feel knowledgeable about proper car maintenance, with Gen Z being the least likely to (67%) and a similar pattern being present in women (68%).

When they need advice, 39% rely on their auto mechanic for car maintenance knowledge, and one in six would immediately take their car to the auto shop for a professional opinion if a new issue arose.

Despite most Americans feeling like they know how to best care for their car, nearly a third wait longer than the recommended six months to take their car for routine maintenance (28%).

Forty-four percent do some level of car maintenance on their own, with men being more likely to (59% vs. 34%).

What prevents respondents from keeping up with their car? For 56%, cost plays a large factor.

On average, drivers estimate spending $379.10 on car maintenance a year, with 26% spending upwards of $500 annually.

This money primarily goes toward oil changes (41%), regular inspections (16%), and tire maintenance (13%).

“In order to maintain your car’s efficiency and increase its service life, it’s important to care for it in the right way,” Niemietz said.

“Regular inspections and oil services guarantee safe function of the engine and the car as a whole.

“It is also important to use the right products for your vehicle, the wrong motor oil specification for example can lead to lower overall efficiency, increased wear, major engine damage and the loss of the warranty.

“Regular maintenance with the correct products helps you to prevent any serious and costly problems, so you can enjoy your car for a long time to come.”

DON’T expect Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to make any moves this season.

The Cowboys are in desperate need of help, but Jones isn’t going to pay up for it.

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The Dallas Cowboys have a mediocre 3-3 record this NFL season[/caption]

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Jerry Jones isn’t expected to make any significant trades[/caption]

The Cowboys are 3-3 on the season and at risk of falling entirely out of playoff contention.

Players on the roster are drastically underperforming, and there are some glaring holes on the team.

However, despite these issues, there is no indication that the Cowboys are going to do anything to solve them.

According to the Athletic, Jones is content with sitting back and allowing the season to play out.

“As for the upcoming November 5th NFL trade deadline, Cowboys’ Jerry Jones says they will not be active,” the report said.

“He also says they will not be making any changes at head coach or coordinators.

“He points to a lot of details that need to improve during practice.”

While Jones says the team needs to improve in practice, there are some things that can’t only be fixed that way.

For example, the Cowboys have the worst rushing attack in the entire NFL. They are only managing 77.2 rushing yards per game.

They are also in the bottom half of scoring in the NFL, only scoring 21 points per game.

Jones is clearly unhappy with the way things are going for his team, even though he isn’t trying to change things.

During a recent radio appearance, Jones lashed out at the hosts of the show.

“Listen, let me tell you what I’ll do about it, I will let us sit down and look at the decisions we’ve made over the last several years. OK? I’ll look at it,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

“Now if you think I’m interested on a damn phone call with you over the radio and sitting here and throwing all the good out with the dishwater, you’d have got to be smoking something over there this morning.

I’m not. And I really don’t… and I don’t even want our listeners listening to me talk about.

“This is not your job. Your job isn’t to let me go over the reasons that I did something and I’m sorry that I did it. That’s not your job.

“That’s not your job or I’ll get somebody else to ask these questions, men. No, no. I’m not kidding.”

Things are going poorly for the Cowboys, and it isn’t going to get much better as the season goes on.

They are on their bye this week, but the stretch of games they have in the four weeks after are brutal.

The Cowboys will play the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders after their bye.

TRAGIC Liam Payne entered rehab just weeks ago in a brave bid to get clean — but heartbreakingly quit after two days.

The One Direction star checked in to The Priory in late July to try to beat his drugs and booze demons.

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Liam Payne entered rehab just weeks ago in a brave bid to get clean — but heartbreakingly quit after two days[/caption]

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Liam, pictured with Kate Cassidy, checked in to The Priory in late July to try to beat his drugs and booze demons[/caption]

But he walked out 48 hours into his 28-day Addiction Therapy Programme — devastating close family and friends.

Liam, 31, died after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina on Wednesday.

A source said: “He gave it a go at overcoming his addictions once and for all. He really wanted to get his life on track.

“All his loved ones were rooting for him.

“There was dismay when he managed just 48 hours of treatment.

“He bravely sought help but couldn’t stay the course.”

Troubled Liam told aides he wanted to beat his addictions for himself, son Bear, seven, and his family.

He signed up to the £5,000-a-night centre in South West London and started a strict detox programme.

But sources said the star hardly left his room and did not attend classes with others seeking help.

He began taking chlordiazepoxide, a sedative used to treat symptoms of withdrawing from alcohol and drugs.

But the treatment proved too much and he checked himself out of rehab.

A source said: “Family and management did everything they could.

“Liam was loved, adored and incredibly talented.

“But he just couldn’t beat his demons.

Liam was loved, adored and incredibly talented. But he just couldn’t beat his demons

Sun source

“It got so bad that last year management begged him not to drive, it was dangerous.

“Loved ones hid his keys but he just bought another car.

“There is some solace in his loved ones knowing he was aware how much everyone was rooting for him.

“He confronted his issues head-on, hoping to get back on track.”

LIAM Payne left behind an unreleased, diary-like album in which he hauntingly sang about having “no way out”.

It was pencilled in for release by early this year but was hit by a string of delays as he was in hospital twice with his kidney problems.

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Liam Payne left behind an unreleased, diary-like album in which he hauntingly sang about having ‘no way out’[/caption]

It could be released posthumously by his former label Capitol Records.

The album’s lead single, Teardrops, was released in March.

But The Sun can reveal the record was set to be his most powerful yet.

On one unreleased track, he sings over electronic uptempo beats: “Everyone is talking. I can’t process this now, I got no way out, no way out.”

On one unreleased track, he sings over electronic uptempo beats: “Everyone is talking. I can’t process this now, I got no way out, no way out.”

The song goes on: “I still got a heavy weight on my back. Wish that I could brush it off just like that.”

A source said: “Liam was always working on songs on his laptop and was in the process of setting up a home studio in Miami but the record was essentially done.

“Most of the tracks were heard by the label and played to his team.

“Lyrically it’s heavy but Liam was really proud of it and was keen to open up so others going through similar things didn’t feel alone.”

Talking about the album, Liam said in March: “Every one of these songs is a story from my life.

“For the first time you really get a picture of what it was like for me each day of making this record like this.

“This album is literally this last year for me, how I was feeling on those days is each record.”

His 2019 debut album, LP1, spawned two solo top ten hits.

PATRICK Mahomes had a short reply to a long social media post from Travis Kelce, who has had enough of the criticisms after his latest date with Taylor Swift.

The Kansas City Chiefs star tight end, 35, attended Game 1 of the ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium this week with his music icon girlfriend Swift.

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce return to the sidelines after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2[/caption]

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Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Kelce appeared at Game 1 of the ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees on Monday[/caption]

A native of Cleveland, Kelce got scolded by fans for not wearing anything Guardians-related on Monday night.

The MLB team lost that day and Game 2, but the series went to Cleveland for Game 3 on Thursday.

The Guardians won the game in 10 innings thanks to a David Fry game-ending two-run home run.

After the contest, Kelce opened up on his fandom of the team while calling out those who took issue with his lack of team paraphernalia in his attendance of Game 1.

“I’ve been a cleveland sports fan my entire life…” the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end wrote on X.

“Make it back to countless amount of games over the years both Guards and Cavs just to enjoy these memories with my friends and family, WIN OR LOSE!!… and I don’t wear Cleveland gear one time and all of a sudden I’m not a real fan?!

“Ask anybody that was in or around that suite on game 1 who I was cheering for, they’ll let you know I was there for the @CleGuardians.”

Mahomes responded to his teammate with a simple two-word message.

“Go Royals,” he replied.

The two-time NFL MVP Mahomes attended Game 3 of the ALDS between the Kansas City Royals and Yankees.

And just like Kelce, he saw his favorite team lose to the Yankees.

The Royals were eliminated by the Yankees in four games.

The Yankees are up 2-1 and the series resumes on Friday.

The TBS cameras displayed Kelce and Swift numerous times in the MLB playoff game.

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Kelce, Mahomes, and their significant others appeared at the U.S. Open last month[/caption]

The pair were seated in the Yankees suite.

Their appearance came after they were seen in New York attending the men’s singles final at the U.S. Open alongside a group of friends that included Mahomes and his wife, Brittany.

Swift then attended Kelce’s Chiefs Week 5 Monday Night Football win over the New Orleans Saints.

Kansas City then enjoyed the bye week in Week 6.

The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs will go on the road to face the San Francisco 49ers as part of a rematch of the latest big game on Sunday.

The 5-0 Chiefs have yet to lose a game this season.

ONE of the stars of Teen Mom has announced a year-long secret engagement.

However, reality TV fans fear this hidden proposal could potentially be a ‘bad sign’.

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Javi Marroquin proposed to Lauren Comeau last year as they kept their engagement hidden[/caption]

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The pair rekindled in 2022 after he called off his previous relationship with Briana DeJesus[/caption]

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He said he worked hard to rebuild their relationship with her and her family[/caption]

Javi Marroquin rose to fame in 2011 when he starred in the second series of the hit MTV show.

The retired American navy soldier previously got engaged to girlfriend Lauren Comeau.

Together, they reconciled in the fall of 2022 after he called it quits with Teen Mom 2 star Briana DeJesus. 

Recently, the pair took to social media as they revealed their engagement with a series of romantic snaps of his proposal.

Their son Eli, 5, and his son Lincoln, 10, – whom he shares with ex-wife Kailyn Lowry – were both participants.

Alongside a ring and a red love heart emoji, the caption read: “10.16.23,” suggesting that the couple have been engaged for over a year.

In a Q&A on his Instagram stories, one fan asked the reality TV personality why he decided to keep the betrothal hidden for such a long time.

Javi replied: “There’s something special about keeping a intimate moment private…

“I worked so hard to get to that point. I worked so hard to get my family back.

“I worked so hard to rebuild relationships with Lauren’s family … it was important for both of us to tell them privately and not share with the world before we told our loved ones.”

He added: “I knew social media wouldn’t see all that and I wasn’t going to let them ruin such a special moment for my family.

“Just to name a few reasons, but it was a special day for everyone and I can’t wait to marry the love of my life.”

However, many fans think that it was somewhat of a bad omen that the duo decided not to announce their engagement for such a long time.

Taking to Reddit, one fan said: “I fully think it took them a year to announce because she was seeing how it went. They broke up like a month after getting engaged last time”

As another commented: “They got engaged a year ago and are only announcing it now. I can guess why lol.”

But other fans disagreed as the flooded the comments section of a Teen Mom fan account which celebrated the happy news.

“I think they are cute together and Lauren seems real sweet and genuine in all her posts,” claimed a third user.

While a fourth fan stated: “Good for them. I wish them all the best.”

And a fifth added: “Love this for them. They look absolutely amazing together. And look the happiest lately. Congratulations.”

  Follow all our latest news & stories on Teen Mom.

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The pair rose to fame in 2011 in Teen Mom 2[/caption]

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The duo share two kids together and their older son Eli was involved in the ceremony[/caption]

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Fans worried the fact their engagement was hidden was a worrying side[/caption]

A MAJOR sporting tournament could be set to come off free-to-air TV for the first time in its history.

Broadcasters have been told it will cost £100million to secure the rights to the event once the current deal expires.

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The BBC is set to be priced out of broadcasting the Six Nations on free-to-air TV[/caption]

The new price represents a £10million increase from the four-year contract which runs out in March.

As a result, the event could leave free-to-air TV ahead of the start of the 2026 edition.

The event at risk is the Six Nations, with the Daily Mail reporting its future on the BBC is in doubt.

A tender process is due to begin imminently after the BBC admitted they would struggle to afford the new price tag.

Their current deal from 2021 to 2025 was priced at £90million, but will come to and end after next year’s tournament.

TNT Sports currently appear the most likely destination for the Six Nations once a new broadcaster is decided.

They already have deals in place for the Premiership and autumn internationals.

Meanwhile, a possible joint deal with ITV has also been reported, allowing some matches to remain on free-to-air TV.

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The report adds that there are currently no plans to force the Six Nations to be offered to free-to-air broadcasters.

It comes after calls to make the tournament a category A event, meaning it would have to be put to the BBC, ITV or Channel 4.

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The new Six Nations broadcasting deal has been given a £100million price tag[/caption]

Instead, it remains a category B event and can be on subscription services such as TNT Sports.

Highlights must be offered on free-to-air channels, though, even if matches are not broadcast live.

The 2025 Six Nations is set to get underway on January 31 with a clash between France and Wales in Paris.

Ireland are the current defending champions after winning their 16th title earlier this year.

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TNT Sports could agree a joint deal with ITV to show the Six Nations from 2026[/caption]