Who was the Menendez brothers’ therapist who got their confession
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On September 19, Ryan Murphy's latest true crime series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, premiered on Netflix.
Featuring Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Chavez, and Cooper Koch, this series offers a creative retelling of the 1989 killings of José and Kitty Menendez, committed by their sons, Lyle and Erik.
The brothers were finally caught seven months after the murders, all because of a confession made to Erik's therapist.
In the series, Dr. Jeremy Oziel, portrayed by Dallas Roberts, was the initial witness to the crimes. However, it was his former client and lover, Judalon Smyth, played by Leslie Grossman, who alerted the authorities about the evidence they had.
Here's a complete overview of how Oziel and his connection with Smyth contributed to the arrest and later sentencing of the Menendez Brothers.
"Meet Jerome Oziel: Who Is He?"
Jerome Oziel was Erik Menendez's authorized therapist and the first person to hear Erik admit to killing his parents.
On October 31, 1989, Erik opened up about his troubling dreams involving his parents and his struggles with sadness during a spontaneous meeting. He ultimately revealed that he and his brother had taken their parents' lives. As reported by the LA Times in their 1993 trial coverage, both Lyle and Erik met with their therapist, Oziel, at the same time and confessed to the killings, which Oziel recorded on a tape.
Following the meeting, Oziel stated in his trial testimony that he strongly believed Erik and Lyle intended to kill him.
Oziel recounted that he exited the session and phoned his wife, Laurel, to check that she and their children were safe and away from the home. After that, he headed over to Smyth’s place to share what had transpired.
Oziel eventually gave up his practicing license. He is still living, but he no longer resides in California.
Who Is Judalon Smyth? Uncover Her Story
At the time Erik confessed, Judalon Smyth was not only Oziel's past client but also his romantic partner. Oziel was involved with Smyth, and she reported that she overheard the brothers discussing the murders while standing outside the door.
Smyth alerted the police after ending her relationship with Oziel. The psychologist ended things with Smyth four months after Erik had admitted something to him. Following this, Smyth informed the authorities that she had overheard Erik through Oziel's door as he mentioned that he and his brother had murdered their parents. She also stated that the doctor had recordings of their conversation and that Oziel had shared details about Erik’s confession with her.
Authorities conducted a search of Oziel's residence for the recordings, leading to the arrest of the Menendez brothers in March 1990.
Smyth is still living, but she has kept a low profile since the conclusion of the trial.
Did Oziel And Smyth Testify In Menendez Trials?
Oziel and Smyth both gave their testimonies during the Menendez trial. However, because of doctor-patient confidentiality rules, it took more than two years for Oziel's recordings to be included as evidence in the case.
In the trial that took place in 1993, Oziel shared that Lyle and Erik had made threats against him following Erik's Halloween therapy session. This revelation led to the tapes ultimately being accepted as evidence in the case.
Erik's lawyer, Leslie Abramson, tried to undermine Oziel's credibility as a witness by claiming that he maintained improper relationships with the clients he worked with.
During the 1993 hearings, Smyth’s statements contradicted her initial report. Although she had previously informed a television interviewer and law enforcement otherwise, when questioned in court, she acknowledged that she never actually heard Erik or Lyle directly confess to the murder of their parents.
She claimed that Oziel manipulated her mind, leading to her experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. She also stated that because of this influence, she shouldn’t be blamed for any mistakes or inconsistencies in her statements.
