Lyle Menendez Reveals Stunning Allegation Against Dr. Jerome Oziel in Recent Documentary

Netflix has released a gripping documentary centered around the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, who provide their insights regarding their notorious true crime saga. The film prominently features the contentious figure from their original trial: therapist Dr. Jerome Oziel.

Note: This content may be troubling to some viewers.

To give some background, prior to the murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez in 1989, Erik began therapy sessions with Oziel after he and Lyle were apprehended for theft from a neighboring property.

In 1990, as investigations into the homicides unfolded, a crucial development occurred when Oziel’s girlfriend and patient, Judalon Smyth, approached law enforcement, alleging that he had recorded confessions from the Menendez siblings.

Dr. Jerome Oziel provided testimony during the initial trials

Following the confiscation of the tapes, Erik and Lyle were taken into custody, leading to two diverging narratives.

On one side, Oziel asserted that the brothers had issued threats, which permitted him to override patient confidentiality. Conversely, the brothers alleged that Oziel had coerced them into a confession under duress.

Now known as Jerry Oziel, the therapist eventually lost his license, while Smyth later testified for the defense, claiming she had been “brainwashed” by him.

The new true crime documentary, The Menendez Brothers, which premiered on Netflix on October 7, delves into the intense controversies surrounding Oziel, allowing Erik and Lyle to recount their experiences.

In a prison interview, Lyle makes a startling allegation about Oziel: his father only chose him as a therapist due to his willingness to disregard confidentiality.

Lyle explains that this arrangement provided Jose Menendez substantial power over his son’s disclosures in what was expected to be a secure therapeutic environment.

“My father insisted on hiring Dr. Oziel only if he signed an agreement that everything Erik shared would be communicated back to him,” Lyle states. “Dr. Oziel consented to this condition.”

He further remarks, “My father selected this unethical psychologist as he was the only one who would forfeit confidentiality, preventing me from genuinely confiding in him.”

While he has since reconciled with Erik, Lyle reveals his anger towards his brother at that time for opening up to Oziel, as both were aware of the therapist’s untrustworthy nature. Erik adds, “I sought Dr. Oziel’s help because I was in a place where I genuinely wanted to end my life.”

Expounding upon the confession dynamics, Lyle mentions, “At one point during the tape sessions, Oziel demanded, ‘You both say you killed your parents.’

“It wasn’t a scenario where he would say, ‘This is awful. Let’s explore this together confidentially,’ which is what one would expect from a standard therapist. Dr. Oziel was primarily focused on leveraging the situation for blackmail.”

Scene from The Menendez Murders: Erik Speaks Out — A&E

In the documentary, Erik and Lyle Menendez recount their experiences

When Lyle was asked about Oziel’s allegations concerning threats made by the brothers, he responded, “No, I have never threatened Dr. Oziel. I’m not someone who issues threats.

“I had not engaged in any violence until the incident involving my parents. Clearly, he did not feel genuinely threatened; otherwise, he would have contacted law enforcement saying, ‘I feel endangered.’ He knew he had the option but opted not to take it.”

The Menendez Brothers is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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