Netflix’s “Monsters” highlights Erik Menendez‘s infamous confession to his therapist and its role in the Menendez brothers case. In 1996, a jury convicted Erik and Lyle Menendez for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills mansion. At the time, prosecutors had argued they killed their wealthy parents for financial gain. However, the brothers, while admitting to the murders, claimed their father had sexually and physically abused them for years. They also accused their mother of being an enabler. The defense had maintained the killings occurred in an act of self-defense.
The Menendez brothers’ controversial case is the focus of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” The series looks at the events leading up to the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez and the subsequent investigation and legal proceedings. It also chronicles Erik’s confession to his therapist, Jerome Oziel, in the months following the shootings. Oziel was a star witness in their murder trials while the confession itself became a crucial piece of evidence against them.
Truth behind Erik Menendez’s confession to therapist revealed
Netflix’s “Monsters” shows Erik Menendez confessing to his therapist about the murder of his parents. Erik, haunted by nightmares and suicidal thoughts, confesses to Jerome Oziel about the murders while taking a walk. He then details the events from the night of the murders while also talking about his father’s abuse. The therapist then calls Lyle, who threatens to kill him despite his reassurance that their conversation will remain confidential.
The next scene in the series shows Jerome Oziel running out of his office to a payphone to call his mistress, Judalon Smyth. He had intended to have a witness present in his office in case things went awry after Lyle arrived. Smyth then waits in a separate room and eavesdrops on the conversation as Erik confesses to the murders. The following episodes show Oziel giving Smyth the key to a safety deposit box after informing her that he stored the recording of the confession in it. She then asks the therapist to go to the police but ends up having a panic attack.
In reality, Judalon Smyth tipped off the police about Erik Menendez’s confession in March 1990 after she and Jerome Oziel broke up, as reported by TIME. She told investigators about the conversation she overheard between Oziel and the Menendez brothers. In August, a judge waived the confidentiality issues under a special circumstance that they had threatened the therapist, ruling the confession admissible during a murder trial. Authorities finally took hold of recorded counseling sessions, prompting a two-year-long legal drama over these tapes.
However, in a twisted turn of events, Judalon Smyth retracted her claims and testified for the Menendez brothers’ defense. The Los Angeles Times reported that Smyth claimed Oziel had “brainwashed her, programmed her and left her victimized, frightened and traumatized.” She had also accused Oziel of raping and drugging her during their affair, alleging she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
On the other hand, Oziel testified during the murder trials that brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez had threatened him. Erik and Lyle were convicted of first-degree murder. They are currently serving their respective life sentences without parole in California’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
The Netflix anthology series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” also looks into the detailed abuse allegations. Additionally, recent developments in the case could potentially amplify their claims of self-defense and facilitate a release from prison.
