Edgardo Díaz, the founding father of the internationally well-known Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, is beneath investigation by the Los Angeles Police Division over allegations that he sexually assaulted a former teenage member of the group within the Eighties, police officers stated.
Allegations of sexual, verbal and bodily abuse have swirled round Menudo for many years, however the investigation by the LAPD, centered round an assault that allegedly occurred on the Biltmore Resort in downtown Los Angeles, is the primary recognized prison investigation surrounding Menudo and its creator by legislation enforcement.
“We are able to affirm a report was taken and it’s an ongoing investigation,” an LAPD spokesperson stated in an announcement to The Occasions. “Resulting from sufferer confidentiality the division is unable to supply additional.”
The investigation stems from allegations made by former Menudo star Roy Rosselló, who was a part of the teen-pop band throughout the peak of its worldwide recognition within the Eighties.
Rosselló had spoken out years earlier about alleged abuse throughout his time with Menudo, however his account regained new focus as a part of the Peacock docuseries “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed,” which seems into the allegations of abuse inside the band, and the alleged connection to Jose Menendez, the previous RCA music government who was murdered in 1989 by his two sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez, who additionally fatally shot their mom, Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, within the household’s Beverly Hills mansion.
Within the final episode of the three-part docuseries, Rosselló recounts a go to to the Biltmore Resort throughout a visit to L.A. Menudo was staying on the resort, and Rosselló says he and different teenage members of the band rented a second room for ladies, who had been the identical age as they had been.
Rosselló alleges within the collection that Díaz slapped one other member of the band, then punched him repeatedly when he came upon concerning the ladies. Díaz allegedly took Rosselló to a different room, tied him to the mattress, beat him with a moist towel and raped him.
“He advised me, ‘This higher be the final time I see you with a lady since you are mine. I’m not going to share you with anybody,’” Rosselló says in Spanish within the docuseries.
Towards the top of the docuseries, Rosselló is seen strolling into an LAPD station on Nov. 8 to file a police report concerning the alleged assault. He returns with what seems like a replica of the report.
Roy Rosselló, left, and journalist Robert Rand, within the Peacock docuseries, “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.”
(Peacock)
Within the docuseries, reported by journalists Robert Rand and Nery Ynclan, Rosselló alleges he was repeatedly sexually abused and assaulted by Díaz when he joined Menudo at 13. Rosselló additionally alleges for the primary time that Díaz took him to the house of Jose Menendez in New Jersey, the place he says he was drugged and raped by Menendez when he was 14.
“That’s the person right here that raped me,” Rosselló says within the docuseries, pointing to an image of the group accompanied by Menendez. “That’s the pedophile.”
In 1996, Erik and Lyle Menendez had been convicted within the homicide of their dad and mom, a stunning crime that garnered headlines throughout the nation. Their first trials, during which the brothers’ attorneys and witnesses detailed years of alleged sexual abuse suffered by the siblings at their fingers of the daddy, ended with two hung juries. However after prosecutors determined to retry the brothers, proof of the alleged abuse was restricted and so they had been convicted.
It’s not clear whether or not Rosselló’s rape allegation towards Jose Menendez may very well be an element within the Menendez brothers’ case being reexamined. Attorneys for the siblings have beforehand tried to attraction their convictions.
It was additionally unclear whether or not Rosselló, who alleged the abuse occurred regularly throughout his time with the band, would search to report extra alleged cases of abuse and assault in different jurisdictions.
“Roy might have filed prison expenses in Los Angeles to this point, however he says he was sexually assaulted in cities throughout the U.S. and world wide,” Rand advised The Occasions.
Former Menudo band member Roy Rosselló within the Peacock docuseries, “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.”
(Peacock)
Former colleagues on the Miami Herald, Rand and Ynclan stated they started working collectively on the Menudo and Menendez story in 2018 after they met on the residence of an aunt of the Menendez brothers. Since then, the 2 have been trying to communicate with former members of Menudo to inform their story, together with Rosselló.
“Roy was on a mission to get heard, and having an investigation opened in spite of everything these years has crammed him with satisfaction, and for the primary time, hope, that it is probably not too late to search out the justice he so badly seeks,” Ynclan advised The Occasions.
Within the docuseries, Rosselló offered at instances graphic particulars of the alleged sexual abuse, nevertheless it wasn’t the primary time he had shared allegations of abuse as a member of Menudo.
In 2014, Rosselló appeared on the Brazilian actuality present “A Fazenda 7” and alleged he had been a sufferer of sexual abuse by Díaz. Six years later, he appeared on a Mexican leisure information program, “Ventaneando,” and repeated claims of sexual abuse by Díaz.
Abuse allegations had plagued the boy band for the reason that early Nineties.
Bolivar Arellano, a contract photographer who labored with Menudo, alleged on a Puerto Rican discuss present in 1991 that a number of members of the band had been given alcohol, medication and had been sexually abused, in keeping with the docuseries. Arellano had coated the band’s first go to to New York in 1983 and based Menuditis, a retailer promoting Menudo merchandise.
Later that yr, former Menudo member Ralphy Rodríguez appeared on the Univision program “El present de Cristina” and stated that he’d seen the alleged abuse perpetrated by Díaz with underage members of the band. Díaz, who appeared within the present, denied the accusations.
Díaz didn’t take part within the Peacock docuseries. He couldn’t be instantly contacted for this story. Ricardo Melendez, a former legal professional for Diaz, didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Díaz was the creator of Menudo, which began in 1977 and grew to worldwide stardom. Wearing colourful, tight outfits, the youngsters shortly turned heartthrobs at sold-out concert events world wide.
The group remained lively till 2002, however the peak of its recognition was within the Eighties. Díaz additionally rotated members of the group all through the many years, introducing new members as younger as 13, and infrequently phasing them out after they reached 16.
Greater than 30 teenagers took half in some type of Menudo, together with famous person Ricky Martin.
