Doctor Oziel: from key witness to license revocation
19 september 2024 в 22:13
Lyle and Erik Menendez continue to serve a life sentence for the brutal murder of their parents on August 20, 1989, when the brothers, then 21 and 18 years old, shot them at the family estate in Beverly Hills.
Initially, the Menendez brothers were not the main suspects. However, seven months after the crime, Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53 years old respectively, were arrested after Judalon Smyth told the police that the younger brother had confessed to the murders during therapy. Smyth, who was the lover of the brothers' psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, learned about the confession after Oziel shared confidential information with her, including the existence of audio recordings of the confession.
Now, 35 years later, the Menendez brothers' case has become the latest topic of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology «Monsters». Titled «Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story», - the series features Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik, as well as Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny as their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Here’s everything you need to know about Oziel, played by Dallas Roberts, and what he’s doing now.
Oziel played a key role in the Menendez brothers' case as the therapist to whom Erik confessed to killing his parents. In October 1989, two months after the murders, Erik left a desperate message for Dr. Oziel, leading to a therapy session on Halloween. During the session, Erik, who was depressed and had nightmares about his parents, talked to Dr. Oziel for about an hour. Later, during a walk, Erik simply confessed: «We did it».
Only after Oziel ended his extramarital relationship with Smyth, a few months later, did she turn to the police and reveal what she knew about the confession.
Dr. Oziel’s involvement went beyond just hearing Erik’s confession. His testimony became crucial in court, despite issues with doctor-patient confidentiality. Oziel claimed that the brothers threatened his life, allowing his testimony to be admitted.
Throughout the trial, Erik’s lawyer, Leslie Abramson, worked to discredit Oziel, accusing him of manipulation and exploitation of patients. She promised to expose him «in every way known to man and God» and accused him of «exploitation, manipulation, sexualization» of relationships with patients and other women, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Smyth initially told the police that she heard the Menendez brothers talking about how they shot their mother in the eye from her nest, according to Oziel, who allegedly ordered her to eavesdrop on their conversation. However, in court, she testified that she did not hear their direct confession to the murder of their parents. Smyth also repeated Abramson’s claims of inappropriate relationships with patients, stating that he manipulated her during their affair, causing inconsistencies in her testimony.
In 1997, Oziel lost his psychologist license after being «accused by the state commission of violating confidentiality rules and having sex with female patients», - according to the Los Angeles Times. By that time, Oziel had already moved out of California and was no longer practicing. His lawyer explained to the publication: «It was pointless to return to California and spend thousands of dollars defending a license he doesn’t use in a state where he doesn’t live».
Later, Oziel commented on the situation in a statement to Bustle, clarifying: «I did not surrender my license because of an allegation that implies I stopped practicing because of what was done in the original accusation. This is flat and completely false».
He added with irritation: «I gradually ended my practice due to a major business offer that was very profitable, and moved to become the CEO of a large company in another state a YEAR AND A HALF AGO before surrendering… No chance»
Initially, the Menendez brothers were not the main suspects. However, seven months after the crime, Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53 years old respectively, were arrested after Judalon Smyth told the police that the younger brother had confessed to the murders during therapy. Smyth, who was the lover of the brothers' psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, learned about the confession after Oziel shared confidential information with her, including the existence of audio recordings of the confession.
Now, 35 years later, the Menendez brothers' case has become the latest topic of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology «Monsters». Titled «Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story», - the series features Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik, as well as Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny as their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Here’s everything you need to know about Oziel, played by Dallas Roberts, and what he’s doing now.
Oziel played a key role in the Menendez brothers' case as the therapist to whom Erik confessed to killing his parents. In October 1989, two months after the murders, Erik left a desperate message for Dr. Oziel, leading to a therapy session on Halloween. During the session, Erik, who was depressed and had nightmares about his parents, talked to Dr. Oziel for about an hour. Later, during a walk, Erik simply confessed: «We did it».
Only after Oziel ended his extramarital relationship with Smyth, a few months later, did she turn to the police and reveal what she knew about the confession.
Dr. Oziel’s involvement went beyond just hearing Erik’s confession. His testimony became crucial in court, despite issues with doctor-patient confidentiality. Oziel claimed that the brothers threatened his life, allowing his testimony to be admitted.
Throughout the trial, Erik’s lawyer, Leslie Abramson, worked to discredit Oziel, accusing him of manipulation and exploitation of patients. She promised to expose him «in every way known to man and God» and accused him of «exploitation, manipulation, sexualization» of relationships with patients and other women, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Smyth initially told the police that she heard the Menendez brothers talking about how they shot their mother in the eye from her nest, according to Oziel, who allegedly ordered her to eavesdrop on their conversation. However, in court, she testified that she did not hear their direct confession to the murder of their parents. Smyth also repeated Abramson’s claims of inappropriate relationships with patients, stating that he manipulated her during their affair, causing inconsistencies in her testimony.
In 1997, Oziel lost his psychologist license after being «accused by the state commission of violating confidentiality rules and having sex with female patients», - according to the Los Angeles Times. By that time, Oziel had already moved out of California and was no longer practicing. His lawyer explained to the publication: «It was pointless to return to California and spend thousands of dollars defending a license he doesn’t use in a state where he doesn’t live».
Later, Oziel commented on the situation in a statement to Bustle, clarifying: «I did not surrender my license because of an allegation that implies I stopped practicing because of what was done in the original accusation. This is flat and completely false».
He added with irritation: «I gradually ended my practice due to a major business offer that was very profitable, and moved to become the CEO of a large company in another state a YEAR AND A HALF AGO before surrendering… No chance»
© Artemenko Olga
