Robert Durst
Robert Alan "Bobby" Durst (born 1943) is a son of the late New York real estate mogul Seymour Durst, and brother of commercial developer Douglas Durst.
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[edit] Early life
Durst grew up, one of four children, in Scarsdale, New York and attended Scarsdale High School. He completed his undergraduate degree at Lehigh University and attended graduate school at UCLA. Durst reportedly witnessed his mother's apparent suicide at age seven; she either fell or jumped off the roof of the Scarsdale family mansion. According to Reader's Digest, Durst underwent extensive counseling because of his mother's death, and doctors found that his "deep anger" could lead to psychological problems, including schizophrenia. Durst went on to become a real estate developer in his father's business; however, it was his brother Douglas who was later appointed to run the family business. The appointment in the 1990s caused a rift between Robert and his family, and he became estranged. His earlier schizophrenia diagnosis was incorrect.[1]
[edit] Fugitive
In 1973, Durst married Kathleen McCormack, who disappeared in 1982. Her case remained unsolved for eighteen years when New York State Police reopened the criminal investigation. On December 24, 2000, Durst's long-time friend, Susan Berman, who was believed to have knowledge of McCormack's disappearance, was found murdered execution-style in her Benedict Canyon California house. Durst was questioned in both cases but not charged.[1][2]
In 2001, Durst was arrested in Galveston, Texas, shortly after body parts of his senior neighbor, Morris Black, were found floating in Galveston Bay, but he was released on bail. Durst missed his court hearing and was declared the nation's first billion-dollar fugitive. He was caught in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at a Wegmans Supermarket, after trying to steal a chicken sandwich and a Band-Aid, even though he had $500 cash in his pocket. A police search of his rented car yielded $37,000 in cash, two guns, marijuana, and Black's driver's license.[3]
These events inspired the 2010 film All Good Things, the title of which is a reference to a health store of the same name set up by Durst and his wife in the 1970s.[4][5]
[edit] Trial
In 2003, Durst went on trial for the murder of Morris Black. He hired defense attorney Dick DeGuerin and claimed self-defense. During cross-examination, Durst admitted to using a paring knife, two saws and an axe to dismember Black's body before dumping his remains in Galveston Bay.[6] The jury acquitted him of murder.[7]
In 2004, Durst pleaded guilty to two counts of bond jumping and one count of evidence tampering. As part of a plea bargain, he received a sentence of five years and was given credit for time served, requiring him to serve about three years in prison. [8]
Durst was paroled in 2005. The rules of his release required him to stay near his home; permission was required to travel.
[edit] Second arrest
In December 2005, Durst made an unauthorized trip to the boarding house where he had killed Black and to a nearby shopping mall. At the mall, he ran into the presiding judge from his murder trial, Judge Susan Criss. Due to this incident, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles determined that Durst had violated the terms of his parole, and he was returned to jail.[9] He was released again from custody on March 1, 2006.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bruno, Anthony. "All about millionaire murderer Robert Durst". truTV. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/classics/robert_durst/1.html. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ www.lasvegascitylife.com
- ^ Charles V. Bagli (2002-01-26). "Durst Waives Extradition To Texas Trial In Murder". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/nyregion/durst-waives-extradition-to-texas-trial-in-murder.html. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- ^ Rubinstein, Dana (August 8, 2008). "Ryan Gosling Is Robert Durst". The New York Observer. http://www.observer.com/2008/real-estate/robert-durst-inspired-feature-film-hit-big-screen-09. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
- ^ Jones, Leigh (August 22, 2008). "Movie based on Durst's wife's disappearance". The Galveston County Daily News. http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=af24d8c229d3acba&-session=TheDailyNews:42F941281412000E30XWTx6B42E2. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
- ^ John Springer. "Prosecution forces Durst to admit his many lies". truTV. http://www.courttv.com/trials/durst/102703_ctv.html. Retrieved 2009-04-02.[dead link]
- ^ John Springer. "Millionaire Durst acquitted of neighbor's murder". truTV. http://www.courttv.com/trials/durst/verdict_ctv.html. Retrieved 2009-04-02.[dead link]
- ^ Jessica Su. "Millionaire Robert Durst pleads guilty to bail jumping, evidence tampering". Court TV. Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20090309052640/http://www.courttv.com/trials/durst/092904_pleadeal_ctv.html.
- ^ Dan Abrams. "Billionaire Robert Durst back in jail". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11024064/. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- ^ Moran, Kevin (March 1, 2006). "Millionaire Durst allowed back to Houston home". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3693768.html. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
[edit] Further reading
- Scott, Cathy (2002). Murder of a Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Death of Susan Berman. ISBN 1569802386.
[edit] External links
- Timeline gallery The Mysteries of Robert Durst at truTV
- Leung, Rebecca (September 8, 2004). "Mystery Of Robert Durst". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/15/48hours/main606443.shtml. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- Scott, Cathy (February 25, 2004). "Cold Case: Friends and family have a strong sense of who killed Susan Berman. So why do the authorities seem so lost?". lasvegascitylife.com. http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2004/02/25/cover_story/cover.txt. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
