Robert Durst, the son of a billionaire real estate tycoon in New York, is no stranger to media attention.
In fact, Durst has been making headlines since January 1982, when his wife Kathie vanished and has never been seen again. Now, 33 years later, Durst has gained the media’s attention again. A very unusual series of deaths and suspicious behavior has the whole country wondering if Durst is the cold, calculated serial killer he has appeared to be or if he has remained innocent all along.
Durst, often called Bob, is easily the black sheep son of his billionaire family. His father created a real estate empire, and his mother committed suicide by leaping from a room in their home. Bob Durst had other plans besides following in his father’s real estate footsteps, and decided to study at UCLA. Later, he met his wife Kathie, a vivacious and smart dental hygienist enjoying her new life in New York City. Bob and Kathie seemed to bond right away, and she loved having the opportunity to go on lavish vacations with her billionaire husband. However, Kathie’s family began noticing controlling behavior from Durst around 1980, when Kathie expressed her desire to attend medical school. Bob did not seem happy with the idea and restricted access to the couple’s money to make it difficult for Kathie to afford medical school. Her family and friends also began noticing Bob’s physical abuse. Their story ends completely in 1982, when Durst claims he and his wife had an argument, he put her on a train to the city and never heard from her again.
This case quickly became suspicious whenever another woman from Robert’s past became involved. Susan Berman, an old college best friend to Durst, started appearing in his life again. They had been friends for years and deeply connected as friends because of similar upbringing. Susan’s father was a well-known and wealthy mob boss, and her mother also suffered from mental illness and had taken her own life. Susan Berman and Durst seemed to look out for one another. The disappearance of his wife became more suspicious after a call was made to Kathie’s medical school from a woman claiming to be Kathie calling out sick. Many believed this voice to be Berman’s covering the tracks for Robert. The case grew cold for almost 20 years.
In 2000, the case was suddenly reopened to the surprise of Durst. A new district attorney with a passion for tying loose ends to these unsolved mysteries, began seeking Durst for further questioning. At this point, he decided to flee the situation and moved to Texas in a bizarre disguise as a mute woman. Police were shocked that Robert fled and began seeking old witnesses from the case, including Susan Berman. As they located Berman’s address for questioning, it seemed someone got to her first. She was found dead in her home on December 24, 2000. Someone had come to her home and shot her in the back of her head. Police also found over $50 thousand in her home given to her by Durst. This brought up more suspicion. Was Susan Berman blackmailing her old friend Robert to keep his secrets about his wife’s disappearance?
Only nine months after Susan’s murder, Durst made headlines yet again. Police suspected Durst in the murder of his 71-year-old neighbor, Morris Black. Durst claimed it was self-defense in an argument with his neighbor in which a gun was accidentally fired. The events that followed had the whole country confused. After Durst realized his neighbor was dead, he decided to cut every part separately and store in separate bags. He dumped all of the bags in the ocean, hoping the tides would take the body away. He then withdrew extra money to pay his neighbor’s rent so no one would notice his disappearance. His plans failed when the tides brought the body closer to shore where they were found by the police. Detectives felt this was one of the most obvious cases of 1st degree murder they had encountered. However, the trial ended with a shocking not guilty verdict. A jury member even mentioned that the prosecutor just couldn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Durst intended to murder his neighbor.
Recently HBO has taken notice of the eventful and suspicious life of Durst. They offered him a chance to speak out in a documentary based on his life and the crimes that have surrounded him. Durst loved the opportunity to have the spotlight once again, only this time, on his terms. The six-part documentary named “The Jinx” allowed Durst to tell his story as he saw it. A shocking turn of events left the world watching in awe. Forgetting he was still wearing a microphone, Durst made a surprising confession in a conversation he thought no one could hear. He asked himself what the hell he had done. He replied “Killed them all, of course.”
When police began to track Durst down after the documentary confession, he was hiding out under an alias in a New Orleans hotel. He had a gun, marijuana, a latex mask, his passport and a substantial amount of cash. Prosecutors think he was about to flee to Cuba. At this point, Robert Durst has been denied bail. Families of the three people either missing or murdered are hoping this trial will finally bring justice. Representing Durst is powerful defense attorney Dick DeGuerin who has already cleared Durst’s name once, but will he be able to do it again?
