722 Elm Drive Photos: Step Inside the Menendez Brothers' Beverly Hills Crime Scene
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Properties associated with notorious homicides carry a measurable psychological discount, a phenomenon known in the housing market as stigmatized property devaluation. Following the Menendez killings, the estate lingered on the market for years. The estate executors faced a mountain of mortgage obligations, legal fees, and probate costs, forcing aggressive price cuts.
In 1991, mystery novelist William Link, co-creator of Columbo and Murder, She Wrote, purchased the home at an estimated $3.6 million, an amount below market value for the prestigious 90210 flats. Link resided there for roughly a decade without incident, hosting social gatherings and writing in the upstairs suites. In 2001, telecommunications entrepreneur Sam Delug acquired the property for $3.7 million, initiating multi-million-dollar structural and landscape updates that modernized the exterior facade and gutted remaining legacy finishes.
| Year | Buyer / Owner | Transaction Value | Renovation / Market Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Jose & Kitty Menendez | ~$4,000,000 | Custom Mark Slotkin remodel; classic 1980s Mediterranean interior. |
| 1991 | William Link | ~$3,600,000 | Probate liquidation post-crime; initial repair of ballistic damage. |
| 2001 | Sam Delug | $3,700,000 | Extensive interior remodel, rewiring, modern high-end finishes. |
| 2024 | Lahijani Family Trust | $17,000,000 | Major off-market closing; luxury market normalization in 90210. |
The March 2024 transaction confirmed that location ultimately trumps historical stigma in prime Southern California enclaves. Selling for $17 million to wealthy developer interests linked to the Lahijani family, the mansion proved that premium dirt west of Sunset Boulevard retains immense intrinsic value, regardless of its past.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
