‘Monsters’ Star Cooper Koch Says He ‘Cares So Much About Erik Menendez After Meeting Him In Prison

“It was so rewarding to meet him,” says Koch, who plays Erik in Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

Cooper Koch shares more about his prison encounter with Erik Menendez.

“Preparing to play him was, in a way, preparing to meet him,” says the 28-year-old actor, who played Erik in Netflix’s Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez told Term. “Because I developed so much care and truth in preparing to play him – I just care so much for him.”

He added: “I believe him, I think he’s a great person. And so, after playing him, meeting him was so rewarding and special and one of the most amazing experiences I think I’ll ever have in my life.

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Koch’s comments come after he revealed this Watch What Happens live with Andy Cohen earlier this month, meeting the Menendez brothers in real life was “not super intimidating.”

“I would say it’s more nerve-wracking because I’ve known them for so long and care about them so much,” he continued. “It was just so nervous, but when I got there it was all great.”

Koch visited the brothers in jail alongside Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner just days later Monsters premiered.

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Last month, Koch told PEOPLE he was “so nervous” ahead of the San Diego meeting at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.

“I had spoken to both of them, so I knew we already had some kind of camaraderie, and they knew where I stood. I told them I supported them and that I believed them,” he said. “I felt like they would welcome me with open arms, yet so nerve-wracking to meet someone you’ve listened to and been inspired by.”

Adding that there was “an immediate connection,” Koch continued, “I got to hug them both, and I sat next to Erik in this circle with all the other incarcerated individuals telling their stories, and they were both so kind. They are great people.”

Related: Monsters Star Cooper Koch reveals he didn’t use a prosthetic for famous shower scene

Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez tells the story of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who murdered their parents José and Kitty Menéndez in 1989 and have been serving life sentences since 1996.

While the prosecution argued that José and Kitty were murdered because of the family fortune of more than $14 million, the Menendez brothers claim that they killed their parents after suffering constant mental, physical and sexual abuse.

In 2005, Erik told PEOPLE, “I’m not saying what I did was right or justified. I had to go to jail. But put another child in my life and see what happens.”

“I felt like it was my life or my parents’ life… being arrested was such a relief. My life was over and I was happy. I didn’t want the money,” he added.

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