Unveiling the Mystery: The Menendez Brothers and the Death of Their Therapist Jerome Oziel – Hollywood Life
Lyle and Erik Menendez continue to serve life sentences for the brutal murders of their parents on August 20, 1989, when the brothers—then 21 and 18—shot and killed them in their family’s Beverly Hills mansion.
Initially, the Menendez brothers were not prime suspects. However, seven months after the crime, Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53 respectively, were arrested after Judalon Smyth reported to police that the younger sibling had confessed to the murders during therapy. Smyth, who was the mistress of the brothers’ psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, learned about the confession after Oziel shared the confidential information with her, including the existence of audiotapes of the confession.
Now, 35 years later, the Menendez brothers’ case is the latest subject of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan‘s Monster anthology series. Titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the series stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik, with Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny portraying their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Here’s everything you need to know about Oziel, portrayed by Dallas Roberts, including his current whereabouts.
Is Dr. Oziel Alive?
Yes. As of September 2024, Dr. Oziel—now known as Jerry Oziel—is living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is currently working at the Marital Mediation Center, where he helps couples improve their relationships through mediation as an “alternative to getting divorced.”
Is Dr. Oziel Still a Practicing Psychologist?
In 1997, Oziel was stripped of his psychology license after being “accused by a state panel of breaking 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 outlet, “It just made no sense to come back to California and spend many thousands of dollars defending a license he doesn’t use in a state he doesn’t reside in.”
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