[5] It was the basis of the plot of the episode "The Good Doctor" in the first season of Law and Order: Criminal Intent and also one of the stories in the television show Dominick Dunne: Power, Privilege, & Justice on Court TV. Daniel Bibb, the former prosecutor on the case, couldnt believe it when he found out that Bierenbaum confessed. Gail went missing in 1985 and her body has never been found. "The way he told the story, it was believable," Youngblood said. Robert Bierenbaum, now 66, was convicted in 2000 of the July 1985 murder of his first wife, Gail Katz Bierenbaum, 29. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! But, months later, authorities discovered that Bierenbaum had driven to a New Jersey airport and piloted a rented plane on a two-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean within hours of his wife's disappearance. He shares the following with ABC News. It was the first time he had admitted to the crime since his wife, Gail Katz, disappeared in 1985. His next parole hearing is scheduled for November. On the surface, Robert Bierenbaum seemed to have it all he was a surgeon, a skilled skier, a gourmet chef and an expert pilot. So how did a presumably once happy marriage end up in a brutal marriage? Robert Bierenbaum, who is serving a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, revealed the details of the 1985 murder during a December 2020 parole hearing whose transcript was recently obtained by ABC News. He claimed to have stayed home. Eventually, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office picked up the case and it went to chief investigator Det. A former Manhattan plastic surgeon convicted in his missing wifes murder has fessed up to tossing her body from a private plane into the Atlantic Ocean, more than three decades later. Then in May 1989, nearly four years after Katz's disappearance, a torso washed up on Staten Island. " Dan Bibb, one of the prosecutors in the case, told the outlet. In 2000, a grand jury indicted Bierenbaum for second-degree murder. If you need help or need help supporting someone else, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. The case was entirely circumstantial but was enough forBierenbaum to be convicted. He also detailed what he did to the body, which has never been found. Although he followed in the footsteps of his father Dr. Marvin Bierenbaum by becoming a surgeon, he never gave up his dream of becoming the first Jewish astronaut. What stunned prosecutors most was that his confession was identical to the theory prosecutors presented in a 2000 murder trial. ABC News reports that Robert Bierenbaum, who is serving 20 years-to-life in prison for murdering his wife Gail Katz, confessed to the crime during a Dec. 2020 parole board hearing. ThoughBierenbaum initially dodged criminal charges, he was ultimately convicted in 2000 on circumstantial evidence. Lisa DePaulo profiled the Bierenbaum case in her story, "Intimations of Murder" published in the September 2000 issue of Vanity Fair magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. A former plastic surgeon who had long denied killing his wife confessed to strangling her to death and throwing her body out of an airplane, according to a report out Thursday. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. He is now eligible for parole and faces a parole hearing in November 2021. Dr. Robert Bierenbaum, a trained pilot serving 20 years to life in prison, admitted to the crime at a parole hearing for the first time since his wife, Gail Katz, 29, vanished in 1985, ABC. | The new 20/20 airs TONIGHT at 9/8c on @ABC. Dan Bibb, one of the prosecutors who brought Bierenbaum to justice, told ABC News. He was known for taking women on short flights for romantic dates. [15], The Robert Bierenbaum case was featured by the television show Law and Order: Criminal Intent, in an episode entitled "The Good Doctor", which originally aired in November, 2001; in an episode of the French series Paris enqutes criminelles; and in an episode of 20/20 in October 2021.[16]. Andy Rosenzweig. A former plastic surgeon who was convicted in 2000 of murdering his wife back in 1985 confessed to her killing last year, more than three decades after her death. He previously maintained his innocence for years and remains in prison on a sentence of 20 years to life. Gail's sister didn't buy his story. 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In the ISBN database, the summary of the book includes:[6]. I opened the door and then took her body out of the airplane over the ocean," the transcript said. "He goes, 'Listen, this isn't for public knowledge. Katz reported the attack to police but her husband was not charged. Build your family tree online ; Share photos and videos ; Smart Matching technology ; Free! Heartbreakingly,KIRO7, a Cox Communication affiliate channel, reports that Gail Katz reported the assault at a local police precinct. Sadly, nothing happened. He made many attempts to have his conviction appealed but was unsuccessful. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Robert Bierenbaum told a parole hearing he had killed his wife Gail Katz in 1985 because he was immature and couldnt deal with his anger. Prosecutors were able to secure the conviction based on circumstantial evidence, presenting a theory of what happened to Katz identical to the doctors confession. According toThe New York Times,authorities thought that Bierenbaum spent hours dismembering Katzs body before taking flight and dumping it into the water somewhere between Montauk Point, New York, and Cape May, New Jersey.. "We knew it was going to be the toughest trial that we'd ever had. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. After 30-plus years of maintaining his innocence, aformer plastic surgeonadmitted to killing his wife and throwing her body out of an airplane. Shockingly, what Robert Bierenbaum describes as happening isnt too far off from what prosecutors at the time (1999) thought happened. Bierenbaum was a suspect in the case for over a decade but police didn't have enough evidence to bring charges against him. Robert Bierenbaum told a parole. Her sister said Bierenbaum caught his wife smoking on their balcony one night and he choked her until she became unconscious, ABC News reported. He hasnt changed he is incapable of a shred of remorse., She added, My sisters body has never been found Gail doesnt rest anywhere., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Stanford pre-K teacher busted for murder as kiddies napped, Bone fragment discovered on hacksaw tossed in trash by accused killer Brian Walshe, Calif. man found guilty of murdering teens who ding-dong ditched his house, Texas woman who beat murder rap of ex in 2018 now accused of poisoning 5th husband to death with insulin. Required fields are marked *. I opened the door and then took her body out of the airplane over the ocean.". A New York surgeon has sensationally admitted strangling his wife and throwing her body out of a plane after maintaining his innocence for nearly 40 years. Gail Katz was never heard from after July 7, 1985 and her body was never recovered, but the jury convicted her husband of her murder on the basis of the circumstantial evidence provided by prosecutors. "[She said], 'No, no, no, Alayne we're gonna get rid of the cat and then everything's gonna be fine because he's gonna believe that I love him,'" Alayne Katz said. Alayne Katz describes several instances of alleged violence at the hands of Berenbaum. He appealed, but the conviction was upheld in the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division in 2002. Robert Bierenbaum (born July 22, 1955) is an American former plastic surgeon and convicted murderer. I was stunned because I always thought that day would never come, that he would own up and take responsibility for having killed his wife, said Dan Bibb, one of the prosecutors. Katz disappeared in 1985, and her body was never found. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. After just five-and-a-half hours of deliberation, a jury found Bierenbaum guilty of murder. But they didnt have enough evidence to press criminal charges, and the plastic surgeon remained a free man. In a December parole hearing, however, Bierenbaum, now 66, admitted for the first time that he strangled Gail Katz, 29, in July 1985. Bierenbaum blamed his actions on being immature at the time and not understanding how to deal with his anger, according to the transcript. After the second time, she said she convinced Bierenbaum they should see a therapist, who recommended Youngblood end the relationship because her "life could be in danger with him." "[8][9][10], The case was also used as precedent in the California case of Glyn Scharf, where Scharf was charged with murdering his wife, even though the victim's body was never found. "I wanted her to stop yelling at me and I attacked her," Bierenbaum told the parole board in December 2020, according to transcripts obtained by ABC News. Her body has never been found. The prosecution stated that Bierenbaum discarded his wife's dismembered body in the ocean. Gail Katz reported the incident to police but he was never charged . He has been eligible for parole since October 2020. I mean, it's the method that he tries to cover up his crime," said Steve Saracco, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney who prosecuted the Bierenbaum case with Bibb. Bierenbaum, an experienced pilot who had been convicted on circumstantial evidence, was serving his 20 years-to-life prison sentence when he made the chilling confession during a December 2020. The Bierenbaum case was the subject of the 2001 New York Times non-fiction bestseller book The Surgeon's Wife. He moved to Las Vegas and then North Dakota, where he married a gynecologist named Janet Challot. All calls are toll-free and confidential. Life Cast Members & Body Hair, Savannah Chrisley Gives Praise To Incredible Women Who Molded Her, Todd Chrisley Says To Stop Throwing Stones, My 600-Lb Life David Nelson Desperate To Find Birth Mother, Meghan Trainor Apologizes For Saying Fk Teachers, Dude, Christine Brown Flaunts Diamond Engagement Ring, Kourtney Kardashian Slammed After Alabama Barkers Revealing Post, American Idol Katy Perry Opens Wide & Squeezes Eyes Shut, Love Island Tasha Ghouri Bursts Out Of Sparkling Bikini, Mystery 101 Stars Reunite One More Time: How Hallmark Mystery Fans Can See Trio, Jenelle Evans Drops Serious Cash On Lavish New Boat, Hailey Bieber Sizzles In Skintight Black Dress & Pearls. "I was like, 'Holy s---, are you kidding me?'" Bierenbaum had long maintained his innocence in the case. Years later, and after relocating numerous times, Bierenbaum then learned that he was wanted for murder and flew to New York City to turn himself in after police discovered new evidence. Once again, he seemed like a perfect catch. Mom Found Guilty of Killing Toddler Son, Burning Body and Burying Him in Yard, 'Why Did You Kill My Daddy? "If this had happened in 2021 Robert Bierenbaum would have been in handcuffs immediately," Bibb said. Bierenbaum was denied parole. Former plastic surgeon Robert Bierenbaum, bottom right, reportedly admitted to the New York State Board of Parole in December 2020 that he strangled his wife, Gail Katz, pictured at upper left, in . He has been eligible for parole since October 2020. The Gail Katz's disappearance case, which had been cold for 10 years by that point, was on his list. Robert had tried to choke Gail because he caught her smoking, she filed a police report. Managed by: Private User. One of Bierenbaums former girlfriends told detectives she was with him when he received a phone call from Port Authority police in New York City, saying they thought someone had found his wife. Rotterdam : Rotterdam Localisation : Country Netherlands, Province South Holland. After his trial, he filed multiple appeals to try to overturn his conviction, first claiming that trial court errors in allowing certain evidence against him prejudiced his case, then that ineffective counsel and the delay between the time he murdered his wife and charges were brought against him were a violation of his rights. Mo. When Gail Katz met Bierenbaum in the early '80s, he seemed like a perfect catch. He failed to mention this fact to authorities during their initial questioning. Bierenbaum's defense tried to paint Gail Katz as an unstable woman with mental health issues and a drug problem, but her sister said none of this was true. They called Gail and warned her that her life could be in danger.. But his love of flying, and one flight in particular, was key for prosecutors to convince a jury that Bierenbaum was a murderer, someone who killed Katz in a homicidal rage and got away with it for 15 years. Prosecutors said Bierenbaum rented a plane out of New Jersey the day his wife died but doctored his flight log to pretend he went flying the following day. Bierenbaum also admitted that he'd disposed of Katz's body more or less as they'd come to believe. One of the prosecutors in the case, Dan Bibb, told ABC he was stunned by Bierenbaums confession because he thought the convicted murderer would never own up and take responsibility for his actions. The Bierenbaum story when you get right down to it is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mr Bibb said. : 01-070-21 B Findings: (Page 1 of 1) Appellant challenges the December 2020 determination of the Board, denying release and imposing a 24-month hold. ABCs reporting is part of a two-hour 20/20 episode set to air Friday night. Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love. Bierenbaum admitted to strangling his wife, as police had long suspected. Katzs sister, Alayne, told the court during Bierenbaums sentencing hearing in 2000 that her brother-in-law killed the victim to prevent her from exposing him as a violent and twisted man, according to The New York Times. I was stunned because I always thought that that day would never come, that he would own up, take responsibility for having killed his wife.. Watch the full story on "20/20," now streaming on Hulu. | The new #ABC2020 premieres Friday at 9/8c on @ABC. Robert Bierenbaum first made headlines for the murder of his wife Gail Katz. 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