20 by Justice Leslie Crocker Snyder. Gail Katz is pictured in a family photo. In honor of her sister, Alayne Katz said the nonprofit organization Pace Women's Justice Center was rebranded as Gail's House to bring greater awareness to domestic violence issues and provide resources to women. Never, Bibb told the jurors shortly before they begandeliberations, did Bierenbaum, who has a pilots license, evermention that he had spent nearly two hours flying an airplane theafternoon after his wife was last seen. 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, Meanwhile, her husband moved on and began seeing other women. Bierenbaum was found guilty of second-degree murder in October 2000. A Manhattan jury convicted him based on circumstantial evidence presented at a 2000 murder trial, but this is the first time he admitted to killing Gail Katz. Bierenbaum, 44, clasped his hands in front of him and loweredhis head when the verdict was read by the jury forewoman inManhattan State Supreme Court. If this had happened in 2021 Robert Bierenbaum would have been in handcuffs immediately, Bibb told the network. His parents wrote that even though he would lose his medical license as a result of his conviction, he could still do a great deal to help society. I feel Dr. Bob is incredible! The couples stormy marriage continued as Katz worked toward her doctorate in clinical psychology at Long Island University. Dr Birenbaum and Mina were top notch in their service and attention to detail. She convinced Bierenbaum to see a therapist, who ended up writing her a letter suggesting she should get out of the marriage and he was concerned he might kill her. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The network is featuring the case Friday night on 20/20.. WebN E W Y O R K, Oct. 24, 2000 -- Dr. Robert Bierenbaum, a plastic surgeon who wascharged with killing his wife 15 years ago and dropping her bodyinto the ocean from an airplane, was convicted today ofsecond-degree murder. They accomplished that task by filming a recreation of how it could be done, the Times reported. 7500 Windrose Avenue Dr. Anderson excels in treating and managing patients with complex visual needs and various eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye disease, styes, pink eye, foreign body removal, abrasions, and infections. In an interview, he said Dr. Bierenbaum was beaten and bitten on the chest by an inmate trying to steal his wedding band. Katz, 29, of New York, was murdered in July 1985 by her husband, Dr. Robert Bierenbaum. Bierenbaum, a former plastic surgeon, was convicted of killing his first wife, Gail Katz, in 1985. The entire staff was amazing! Hes been described as an eccentric, and among his quirks is a nearly obsessive aversion to smoking. They accomplished that task by filming a recreation of how it could be done, the Times reported. There was no foregone conclusion to this case, by any stretch of the imagination.. Definitely more high end frames but that makes sense given the location and clientele. When Alayne Katz accused him of killing her sister, thedefendant called his missing wife a tramp and said he believedshe had run off with another man. We were shocked there was absolutely no indication from his mannerisms that he was involved in any kind of problem, says Dr. John Youngs, medical director at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, where Bierenbaum had been on staff since August. This provider currently accepts 43 insurance plans including He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Prosper with their three children: Parker, Lyla, and Emmi. As soon as you walk in the door you can feel the professional standard A true luxury eyeglass doctor experience. They could find no proof, however, that he had harmed his wife. Alayne Katz and other witnesses would later testify, however, that they had seen one of the letters, which Gail Katz planned to use in the divorce proceedings. WebRobert Bierendaum was born on 07/22/1955 and is 67 years old. I went flying. I wanted her to stop yelling at me and I attacked her, Bierenbaum told the parole board, according to the transcript. Bierenbaum described himself as immature at the time of the murder, for which he is serving 20 years to life. It isnt known whether Bierenbaum clued his new wife into his past in New York. Afraid of being killed or labeled a snitch, Dr. Bierenbaum did not report the attack, Mr. Greenfield said, adding, ''He doesn't know the etiquette and didn't grow up on the streets. He also gave inconsistent statements about his wifes disappearance to various women he dated after Katz vanished. The torso was ruled out as belonging to Ms. Katz-Bierenbaum, whose remains have never been found. After killing Katz, he got rid of her body where no one would find it. As the case grew cold, Bierenbaum moved on with his life, remarried, had a daughter and opened medical practices in Las Vegas and North Dakota. One night, Alayne Katz said Bierenbaum choked Gail after caught her smoking on their balcony. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Watch the full story on "20/20," now streaming on Hulu. "I wanted her to stop yelling at me and I attacked her," Bierenbaum said in a transcript of the hearing obtained by ABC News. Is this you? He was an absolute Angel, such a great experience in this store I recommend to anyone! So she left him. The New York Times reported in 1999 that authorities believed he 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. Meanwhile, her husband moved on and began seeing other women. GRAND FORKS, N.D. For more than a decade, accused killer Dr. Robert Bierenbaum hid his past as he hopscotched across the country. NEW YORK Dr. Robert Bierenbaum maintained his innocence in 2000 as he was tried and convicted of killing his first wife 15 years before. his trial lawyer. Bierenbaum, a former plastic surgeon, was convicted of killing his first wife, Gail Katz, in 1985. Very professional and knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He is serving 20 years to life in The staff gives you honest and knowledgeable feedback. He added that Dr. Bierenbaum was extremely disappointed with the The written ruling by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Court of So glad I did! One night, Alayne Katz said Bierenbaum caught his wife smoking on their balcony and he choked her into unconsciousness. "An X-ray technician compared this X-ray with the torso and said, 'This is Gail,'" Alayne Katz said. ABC News and the Times reported that investigators learned that Bierenbaum had gone to the Essex County Airport in Caldwell, New Jersey, on July 7, 1985, and taken out a small plane for about two hours. NOW WATCH: I infiltrated the UK's most dangerous drug gangs here's what I learned about drug crime. 2023 Cox Media Group. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. The inmate then threatened to kill him if he reported the assault. Within days, investigators were also skeptical of Bierenbaums story, according to the Times. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to hear about the latest in eye care, eye diseases and eyewear trends. Knowing of Bierenbaum's love of flying, Rosenzweig checked with the New Jersey airport Bierenbaum liked to rent planes from and discovered the doctor had taken a plane out on July 7, 1985, but Bierenbaum had doctored his flight log to make it look like he went flying the next day. He has over 40 years of experience and has so much knowledge. Bought my first pair from her 2 weeks back..great quality product. The magic didnt last long. He never told investigators about the flight. The request was outlined in a presentencing memorandum submitted on Monday that includes dozens of support letters from Dr. Bierenbaum's family, his colleagues and even a high-ranking United Nations official. He told them he would call them later, then told her, "I doubt it's Gail," according to investigators. The fact that this was (1983) nothing was done about it., Confession: Gail Katz is pictured in a family photo. We were visiting our daughter from Germany and swung by Spectacles to pick up a pair of glasses for her. Im very relieved, said Alayne Katz. He claimed to have stayed home. His flight path took him over the ocean. The most common causes of dry eyes as per the experts like Dr. Anderson are lipid malfunction and insufficient tears. He also once choked Gail into unconsciousness after finding her smoking on their balcony. Youngblood said he eventually admitted he had been married before, but said his wife had disappeared and he didn't like to talk about it. Bierenbaum was convicted Oct. 24 of strangling Gail, a 29-year-old psychology grad student, in 1985 in a fit of jealous rage after finding shed cheated on him. 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. Dr. Steve Anderson grew up in the mountains of northern Utah, where he graduated from high school and completed his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science. His next parole hearing is slated for next month. Not really. Soon after Gail Katz vanished, her family and friends told cops Bierenbaum had once tried to strangle her after catching her smoking, which he had forbidden. The DA's office closed their end of the investigation without bringing charges and the police department's investigation fizzled out. But prosecutors never gave up on the case and eventually charged him with second-degree murder more than a decade after the killing. You can cancel at any time. ''His practice of medicine was connected to his desire to help people. Robert Bierenbaum is in prison today in the murder of his wife, Gail Katz Bierenbaum. All three subsequently contacted Katz and warned her that her life could be in danger, the newspaper reported. Bierenbaum remains in prison. Youngblood said Bierenbaum joined an organization that flew doctors and nurses in and out of Mexico to treat children who needed medical care. Simply the best eyeglass store in DFW. Spectacles Fine Eyewear is a renowned establishment that offers highly specialized optometric care services. 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. Our clinic stands out from the rest mainly because of the experience, professionalism, and expertise of Dr. Anderson and his trained staff. Dr. Bierenbaum's first wife, Gail Katz-Bierenbaum, vanished on July 7, 1985, but the doctor was not charged with her murder until last December. "[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. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. I heard the cuffs close round hishands. This is not your ordinary eye doctor/ eye wear shop. The memo and the letters to the court focus on Dr. Bierenbaum's charitable trips since 1990 to El Fuerte, Mexico, to perform reconstructive surgery on poor children with cleft palates. I will return and can highly recommend. "If this had happened in 2021 Robert Bierenbaum would have been in handcuffs immediately," Bibb said. He also once choked Gail into unconsciousness after finding her smoking on their balcony. I highly recommend them. At our center, we offer the most extensive variety of services related to optometry. Shes not with me, and shes not with my parents, and at that moment I know that my sisters dead, Katz said. found. The doctor has pleaded not guilty. Alayne said one day she received a call from her sister after Bierenbaum had tried to drown her cat in the toilet of their Upper East Side apartment. thanks! But, my prescription turned out to be wrong (twice!) The couples stormy marriage continued as Katz worked toward her doctorate in clinical psychology at Long Island University. WebDr. All-inclusive retinal exams and consultation, evaluations and treatments for a dry eye condition, patient education, designer eyewear, minor foreign body removal, post cataract and LASIK surgery care, etc. According to the Times, she had talked Bierenbaum into seeking psychiatric help for his violent streak. Oakland school board rejects resolutions to cut budget, lay off staff. But court testimony from several witnesses who described the couple's violent marriage included an incident in which he tried to choke his wife's cat and drown it in the toilet. There were no cats running and hiding from Bob as Gail so often described on the phone. Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bibb said in his summationthat Bierenbaum told proactive and reactive lies, dependingon whether he was speaking before or after someone asked aboutKatz-Bierenbaum. Dr. Anderson is a specialist in treating dry eyes. "There was no foregone conclusion to this case, by any stretch of the imagination.". Dr. Robert Bierenbaum and his then-wife, Dr. Janet Cholett, leave court together in October 2000 in New York. They also recounted his early dreams of being an astronaut and his most recent ambition of continuing his international medical work, and perhaps joining an organization like Doctors Without Borders. Nadine took very very well care of me! Ellen Lane Busher is a health care provider primarily located in Boston, MA, with another office in Boston, MA. Dr. Birenbaum is exceptional at what he does, displaying and sharing his passion for eye health along with his expertise. who have reviewed the conviction of Dr. Robert Bierenbaum. Dan Bibb, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney who prosecuted Bierenbaum in 2000, said. 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. Then in May 1989, nearly four years after Katz's disappearance, a torso washed up on Staten Island. Conviction of former Minot surgeon in wife's death is upheld in New York. Dr. Bierenbaum's first wife, Gail Katz-Bierenbaum, vanished on July 7, 1985, but the doctor was not charged with her murder until last December. He is a competitive cyclist (Texas State Champion in 2021) and loves go-kart racing, racing RC trucks in the cul-de-sac with his kids, watching F1 races, playing pickleball and tennis, and backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing with his wife on vacations. Shes not with me, and shes not with my parents, and at that moment I know that my sisters dead, Katz said. Alayne Katz and other witnesses would later testify, however, that they had seen one of the letters, which Gail Katz planned to use in the divorce proceedings. I opened the door and then took her body out of the airplane over the ocean, he reportedly said. In the process we met Jon who has given us exceptional service. Thank you Jon for restoring our faith in customer service again. (Lorenzo Ciniglio/Sygma via Getty Images), We knew it was going to be the toughest trial that wed ever had. Robert Bierenbaum married his second wife, Dr. Janet Chollet, after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the couple had a child together, according to The Charley She chose not to be present; it was too emotional for her, said another of Dr. Bierenbaums lawyers, David Lewis. "And I'm like, 'No. He has over 40 years of experience and has so much knowledge. Fifteen years after her disappearance, he was finally going to trial for his wife's death. 0. The Surgeon's Wife: The Disappearance of Gail Katz-Bierenbaum. You would see the women later and they would say, We just broke up because we were fighting all the time.'. The experience, knowledge and high-end technology we possess help us to get you the precisely matching contact lenses. prison. Former NY surgeon admits killing wife, throwing body from airplane in 1985 (NCD). Meanwhile, he remains imprisoned at the Otisville Correctional Facility, the records show. If you want great service and complimentary champagne on Saturdays spectacles at legacy west is the way to go and request Nadine!! Bierenbaum, a licensed pilot, moved to North Dakota after his After killing Katz in 1985, Bierenbaum told her family and police that they had had a fight at their apartment and Katz stormed off and never returned. Dr. Robert Bierenbaum and wife Janet walk together during break from his murder trial. We found out that my previous doctor had misdiagnosed me and I was wearing the wrong glasses/contacts for a year. They Easy parking and great location. Bierenbaum, 44, was charged Tuesday with murdering Katz, loading her body into his twin-engine plane and flying out over the Atlantic to dump her in a watery grave. for comment. To our knowledge, hes never said to anyone, I did it. Its really about pointing to inconsistencies in his statements and its more than that, too, says DA spokeswoman Barbara Thompson. Plano, TX 75024. Snowfall reaches 15 feet in some areas of Yosemite National Park. Im glad I came to see Dr. Robert and so pleased with my visit that I already referred him to family me members. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. He became eligible for parole last October, according to state prison records. At first, their romance seemed "magical," said Katz's sister Alayne Katz, an attorney in New York state, but there were red flags. I went flying. I have total confidence in him, and the staff is really great. They could find no proof, however, that he had harmed his wife. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Dr. B examines your eyes with great tech and solid knowledge base while his staff is really talented in getting the right style & fit on glasses that define you. All of Bierenbaums appeals over the years were unsuccessful. Please subscribe to keep reading. It is extraordinary! Outstanding customer service. Budget, lay off staff provider primarily located in Boston, MA with. You Jon for restoring our faith in customer service again up a pair of glasses for her more a. Anderson and his then-wife, Dr. Janet Cholett, leave court together in October 2000 to... Whose remains have never been found learned about drug crime his innocence in as! After her disappearance, a former plastic surgeon, was convicted of killing his first wife, Katz... 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