Lyle Menendez and his wife, Rebecca Sneed, quietly ended their marriage after more than 21 years together, but she remains a key figure in his life despite rumors of a cheating scandal Sneed says are baseless, PEOPLE has learned.

Lyle Menendez, 56, is just moving on fast from behind bars. The infamous prisoner, who was convicted in 1996 alongside his brother, Erik Menendez, for the 1989 double murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez,

As for Lyle’s brother, Erik, he has been married to his wife, Tammi Saccoman, since 1999. Erik met Tammi while in prison, and the two began their relationship through letters.

As Lyle Menendez has been entangled in a cheating scandal with a young university student, his wife Rebecca Sneed has confirmed that they are splitting after 21 years of marriage

Lyle Menendez’s wife Rebecca Sneed announced she and the convicted murderer have separated after 21 years of marriage. The news comes after rumors began circulating that Menendez was allegedly cheating on his wife with a 21-year-old British college student.