You probably remember the face from the grainy 90s court footage. Or maybe you just watched the Netflix dramatization. Either way, Dr Jerome Oziel remains one of the most polarizing figures in true crime history. He was the man who held the secret that blew the Menendez case wide open.
But where is he? Honestly, if you expect to find him in a high-rise Beverly Hills office charging $150 an hour, you're about thirty years too late.
The truth is way more quiet—and a little strange.
The Albuquerque Chapter: A New Career in "Marital Mediation"
As of early 2026, Dr Jerome Oziel now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He’s basically traded the Hollywood spotlight for the high desert. He doesn't go by "Psychologist" anymore because, well, he can't. Instead, he runs the Marital Mediation Center.
Think about that for a second. The guy who was at the center of the world's most famous dysfunctional family drama is now helping couples stay together. It's a bit ironic.
His current work focuses on something called "marital mediation." It's not exactly therapy. It's more like a middle ground between counseling and divorce court. He works with couples to resolve conflicts without the scorched-earth policy of a legal battle.
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He seems to prefer the anonymity of New Mexico. In recent years, he's been pretty vocal about the fact that he moved on from the Menendez trial decades ago. He told reporters that his current life has zero connection to the events of 1989.
Why He Lost His License (It Wasn't Just the Tapes)
There's a huge misconception that Oziel lost his license specifically because he recorded Erik and Lyle Menendez. That's not quite right.
The California Board of Psychology definitely had issues with him. But the "confession tapes" were actually ruled admissible because the court decided the brothers had threatened Oziel, which breaks doctor-patient confidentiality.
So what actually happened?
In 1997, Oziel surrendered his license. He didn't fight the state board's accusations. They weren't just looking at the Menendez case; they were looking at his entire professional conduct. There were allegations of:
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- Improper sexual relationships with female patients.
- Breaching confidentiality by letting his mistress, Judalon Smyth, listen in on sessions.
- Inappropriately prescribing medication.
Oziel has always denied the more salacious claims. His legal team argued back then that it wasn't worth the money to defend a license in California when he had already moved out of the state. He basically packed his bags and never looked back.
Life After the 90s Spotlight
Before the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, Oziel was a big deal. He had a 6,000-square-foot house. He was a professor at USC. He was the guy rich people in Beverly Hills went to when their kids got in trouble for burglary.
After the trial, that world evaporated.
He spent some time in Portland, Oregon. While there, he hosted seminars for women about improving their relationships and sexual lives. It was a pivot, sure, but it kept him in the "relationship expert" lane.
The 2024 Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story brought him back into the public eye, whether he liked it or not. Suddenly, a new generation was Googling his name.
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What about the Menendez brothers' resentencing?
Things have moved fast lately. In May 2025, a judge actually resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life. This made them eligible for parole for the first time in decades.
However, by August 2025, their parole was denied. The board cited rule-breaking and "deception" during their time inside. Through all of this modern legal drama, Oziel has stayed silent. He isn't showing up to hearings or giving "exclusive" interviews on talk shows.
The Reality of Dr Jerome Oziel Today
If you were looking for a dramatic "fall from grace" story, this is it. But it's also a story of a guy who simply decided to reinvent himself in a place where nobody knows his face.
He's in his late 70s now. He lives a private life. The Marital Mediation Center is his primary focus.
It’s easy to look at the 1993 trial and see a villain or a victim of circumstance, depending on which side of the courtroom you're on. But the man himself has spent the last thirty years trying to be neither.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case:
- Check Licensed Status: If you are looking into the professional history of any public figure in therapy, always check the state board's archives. Oziel’s surrender of his license is public record in California.
- Separate Fiction from Fact: When watching dramatizations (like the Netflix series), remember that Oziel has disputed many of the characterizations of his relationship with Judalon Smyth.
- Follow the Resentencing: Keep an eye on the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. While the brothers were denied parole in 2025, the legal landscape in California regarding youthful offenders is constantly shifting.
Whether you think he was a hero for getting the confession or a therapist who crossed every ethical line in the book, Dr Jerome Oziel now is simply a man living out his retirement years in the Southwest, far away from the cameras of Court TV.