Menendez brothers seen on 1990 NBA trading card months after murders
A 1990 NBA trading card featuring former New York Knicks guard Mark Jackson has gained newfound notoriety — not for the athlete’s performance, but for its eerie connection to one of America’s most infamous murder cases.
In the background of the card, now considered a collector’s item, sit Erik and Lyle Menendez — who were later convicted of killing their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in a 1989 double homicide in Beverly Hills. The brothers can be seen courtside at Madison Square Garden during the 1989–1990 season, just months after the murders and while they were under investigation.
Collectors first noticed the Menendez brothers on the card years after its release. Once dismissed as a common card worth pennies, its value surged following renewed public interest in the brothers' case and their recent resentencing. Some listings have reached hundreds of dollars, though online platforms like eBay have since taken down posts that referenced the brothers by name, citing policies against profiting from violent crime.
Reports also suggest that some collectors have sent the cards to the Menendez brothers in prison, requesting autographs.
Explainer: The Menendez brothers case
Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in August 1989. At the time of the killings, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18.
Initially, the brothers claimed that intruders were responsible, suggesting a mob hit. But investigators grew suspicious as the pair began spending lavishly in the months that followed. Their purchases included luxury cars, vacations, and front-row NBA tickets — the same game at which they were later identified on the Mark Jackson trading card.
Authorities later learned that Erik had confessed to the killings during therapy sessions. In 1990, the brothers were arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The prosecution argued the murders were premeditated acts committed for financial gain, while the defense claimed the brothers acted out of fear after years of emotional and sexual abuse by their father.
The first trial ended in mistrials. In a second trial, both brothers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
After decades of legal appeals, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing in 2024. Though his successor reversed course, a judge in May 2025 resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
