Current Status of Dr. Oziel: What Happened to the Menendez Brothers’ Therapist?

The newly released Netflix documentary series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, delves into the notorious real-life murder case involving Jose and Kitty Menendez, whose tragic deaths were orchestrated by their sons, Lyle and Erik.

Among those intertwined with the case and featured in the series is psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Oziel, who was the first to hear Erik Menendez’s confession about the murders. The audio tapes of his therapy sessions became pivotal evidence during the trial against the Menendez brothers.

Following the conclusion of the trial in 1997, Dr. Oziel’s professional career came to an abrupt end as he lost his license to practice psychology. This was not solely attributed to the Menendez confession; Oziel was also involved in a romantic relationship with one of his patients, Judalon Smyth, who later disclosed information about the Menendez tapes to the authorities.

Now, Dr. Oziel, having changed his name to Jerry Oziel, resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he works at the Marital Mediation Center. Although he is unable to provide formal therapy, he is reported to assist couples facing issues in their marriages.

The Background of Dr. Oziel: The Psychiatrist Behind the Menendez Brothers Confession

Dr. Oziel, an experienced psychiatrist and licensed therapist, obtained his doctorate in clinical psychology from Arizona State University in 1972. He maintained a private practice in Beverly Hills, specializing in phobias and various psychological disorders.

His relationship with the Menendez family began in 1988 when they engaged him to counsel Erik after catching the brothers in a burglary. In 1989, 20-year-old Erik revealed to Oziel that he and his brother Lyle had murdered their parents, providing harrowing details about the shooting and their subsequent cover-up.

This explosive revelation occurred over several therapy sessions, with four of them being recorded by Dr. Oziel between October 31 and December 11. He even conducted a joint session with both brothers in December.

Initially, Oziel respected the confidentiality of these sessions. However, he later disclosed the case details to Judalon Smyth. After their breakup, she used this information as leverage against him and contacted the authorities.

In March 1990, Dr. Oziel and the Menendez brothers were arrested, and the tapes of their therapy sessions were confiscated.

What transpired when Dr. Oziel testified against the Menendez brothers?

Following their arrest, the Menendez brothers faced trial for murder. A significant point of contention was whether Dr. Oziel’s recorded tapes would be admissible as evidence. In August 1992, the court ruled that two of the four recordings could be presented, serving as critical evidence for the prosecution.

During the trial, Oziel testified regarding his sessions with the brothers, but much of his testimony revolved around his relationship with Judalon Smyth.

Viewers can explore the unfolding of this story in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, now available for streaming on Netflix.

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