Who are Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth?

It is difficult to tell the truth in the Menendez case, but this is even more true when it comes to Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth, two minor characters who played a central role in the case, primarily because of their complicated love relationship.

This also applies to “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Hernandez Story” on Netflix, the legal drama from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Here you will learn the truth about the couple who were ultimately responsible for the arrest of the Menendez brothers, played by Dallas Roberts and Leslie Grossman.

What is the connection between Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth and the Menendez case?

Although police blamed the brothers for the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, it was Smyth who told police she overheard their confession, which ultimately enabled them to make an arrest. But as always with Smyth, how she got into this situation is complicated.

Smyth was the mistress of Dr. Jerome Oziel, Lyle and Erik Menendez's therapist. Oziel was first linked to the brothers in 1988 during their burglary case. The case was ultimately attributed to Erik because he was a minor at the time, and Oziel was assigned to provide an evaluation for the court. After the murders, Oziel was contacted by a distraught Erik at the urging of his cousin.

It's hard to say exactly what happened after Erik contacted Oziel, as the statements from Oziel, Lyle, Erik, and Smyth all differ. According to Oziel, during this first session, Erik confessed to killing his parents. The two then asked Lyle to join them so they could work through this confession together. While they waited for Lyle to arrive, Oziel called Smyth.

Smyth claimed that Oziel asked her to come to the office because he feared for his life and wanted a witness. She remained in the waiting room during Oziel's meeting with Lyle and Erik. How exactly Smyth learned of the brothers' confession remains unclear. Smyth claimed she heard it through the door of Oziel's office, although at least one reporter doubted this due to the thickness of the wood. It's also possible that she got the information from Oziel.

Regardless, Smyth fled the practice and eventually told police about the confession that ultimately landed the brothers in prison. Although she was responsible for their arrest, Smyth testified for the defense at trial and was used to discredit Dr. Oziel. Recordings the therapist made during his sessions with the brothers were repeatedly used by the prosecution.

Did Dr. Oziel brainwash Judalon Smyth?

This is the explanation for Smyth's about-face that she has long espoused. During cross-examination by prosecutors, Smyth quickly admitted that she only told police about Menendez's confession so that Oziel would be prosecuted. “He was the one who committed crimes against me, not Lyle or Erik Menendez,” Smyth said at the time.

While on trial, Smyth accused Oziel of kidnapping and rape. She also said she was afraid Oziel would try to kill her. Smyth and Oziel also have differing accounts of how she came to stay at the doctor's house for a period of time with his wife and child. Smyth claimed it was part of his kidnapping and brainwashing, while Oziel said it happened because Smyth was afraid the Menendez brothers would kill her.

During cross-examination, the prosecution turned Smyth's anger at Oziel into a story of a woman spurned. But in one of the trial's few humorous moments, Smyth reacted caustically when asked if she wanted to be with the therapist. “I didn't want any kids that looked like Dr. Oziel,” Smyth said.

“I don't know if her motives were that pure. I don't think she cared much about the brothers or the murders. I think she had a score to settle,” Leslie Grossman told TheWrap. “Fortunately, we have the court records and we know that everything she did was true, and it's wilder than any fiction that could have been written.”

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is now streaming on Netflix.

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