The tragic saga of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who murdered their parents in 1989, includes the vital testimony of therapist Jerome Oziel, who heard their confession and is a pivotal character in season 2 of Netflix’s anthology series “Monster.”

Dallas Roberts, known for his role in “The Walking Dead,” portrays the controversial therapist in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which debuted on Thursday. This season recounts the brother’s grisly act against their parents at their Beverly Hills residence on August 20, 1989.

In their trial, Lyle and Erik contended that they committed the act due to enduring abuse from their parents. Both were found guilty of first-degree murder and received life sentences.

Who is Jerome Oziel?

Jerome Oziel was the therapist for Erik and Lyle Menendez and became a crucial witness during their trial after they confessed to him about the murder.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Oziel stated that he became their therapist after Erik was accused of two burglaries in Calabasas in 1988. He disclosed in court that the brothers opened up about their crime after several months of therapy.

During cross-examination, defense lawyers attempted to undermine his reliability by highlighting an alleged affair he had with a woman, as reported by the Times.

Oziel, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Arizona State University, lived in South Carolina for two years before relocating to California. In Beverly Hills, he established a private practice and taught at the University of Southern California. He was regarded as an expert in handling various phobias and sexual disorders.

What happened to Jerome Oziel?

According to Oziel, the Menendez brothers threatened him, but thankfully, they did not carry out any harm against him.

On January 3, 1997, the Board of Psychology under the Department of Consumer Affairs revoked Oziel’s therapist license after being accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with patients and breaching confidentiality rules. He denied any wrongdoing.

Currently, he no longer resides in California.

His attorney mentioned to the Times that returning to California to defend a license he doesn’t use in a state he doesn’t live in made little sense financially.

How to watch ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’

All nine episodes of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” were made available on Thursday, September 19.

Cast of ‘The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’

• Javier Bardem as José Menendez
• Chloë Sevigny as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez
• Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez
• Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez
• Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel
• Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne
• Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson
• Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth
• Jason Butler Harner as Les Zoeller
• Enrique Murciano as Carlos Baralt

Contributing: Taylor Ardrey