Robert Durst Is JINXED: HBO Documentary Leads To Arrest For Murder Of Friend Susan Berman, Possible Ties To Other Cases
Image Courtesy Gerald Herbert/ AP
If Robert Durst was a fictional protagonist featured in Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling’s HBO’s docuseries The Jinx, he would be my favorite villain on cable right now. He is not. Durst is a slight man whose wallet is bigger than he is. Because he ignored the advice of the $2million dollar defense team that won him an acquittal on murder charges of his neighbor Morris Black in Galvaston- he is now facing a first degree murder charge in Los Angeles.
Durst is accused of killing his long-time friend turned publicist Susan Berman in 2000 after she informed him police from Westchester County, NY sought an interview with her about Kathie Durst’s disappearance in 1982. This was also immediately after Berman cashed a check from Durst for $50,000. Berman’s killer sent a note to LAPD indicating there was a cadaver at her residence the day Durst boarded a plane from San Francisco to New York. When Durst was confronted with this information his response was, “California is a big state.” It is believed that Durst may have used Berman’s mob boss Father’s contacts to dispose of his wife’s remains in “The Pines” of New Jersey.* During filming, Susan Berman’s son located a letter to Susan from Bobby Durst which he provided to Jarecki. The nearly identical block print style is further complimented by the exact same misspelled word- BEVERLEY.
HBO
Neither Jarecki nor Smerling have commented directly on the authenticity of the chronology of the series after editing of The Jinx. In other words, it is unclear when Jarecki formed the opinion he was interviewing the man responsible for the murder of his best friend and confidant- and likely at least two others. It IS clear that the title, The Jinx, reflects Durst’s self-assessment.
Durst was arrested in New Orleans on Saturday evening; the night before the series finale aired on HBO.
Kathleen Durst, Robert Durst’s first wife, disappeared following what Durst described as a “pushing and shoving” kind of argument at their West Salem, NY home. Durst states in The Jinx that he is complicit in her disappearance because his behavior drove her to leave him and her fourth year of medical school- but that’s all. At the time, Ms. Durst had recently proposed a divorce settlement through her lawyer which Mr. Durst declined. Kathie Durst has never been located and was declared legally dead in 2001. The couple was the basis for the loosely fictionalized film, All Good Things, which was Jarecki’s first crack at Durst and the impetus for Durst to contact Jarecki after seeing it. Durst audaciously proposes and agrees to participate in ‘Jinx’.
“… Is he crazy enough to participate?…” - Andrew Jarecki
” The downside to me about giving an interview is that the interviewer will take what I have said to make me look as bad as possible.” – Robert Durst
“… The upside is that there will be something out there from me, I mean this whole time since I have gotten out of prison, I’ve said nothing to nobody about anything… I will be able to tell it my way and if somebody is reasonably open to a different story or a different situation than what has been put in the media, they’ll have an opportunity to believe it…” – Robert Durst
“… Look, I know you want to tell your story it’s important to you, and that’s fine by me but I want you to remember one thing. You run the risk of pissing people off and people that have intentions contrary to your liberty, don’t forget that.” – Chip Lewis, Durst Atty
Bob Durst, the eldest son of Seymour and Bernice Durst was still in his tender years when his Father summoned him to wave to his Mother standing on the roof of the family home in her nightie. Seconds later Mrs. Durst leapt to her death. In his own words for the first time, Durst recounts many of his family foibles in the six part HBO series. Some highlights include the fact that over a dozen members of his family have permanent restraining orders against him and he was acquitted of trespassing at his brother Douglas Durst ‘s home while the series was being edited.
‘Jinx’ masterfully elicits answers from Durst he has never before allowed to be asked of him on camera without a subpoena. Bobby Durst’s one-on-one interview footage is the equivalent of watching a curious zoo exhibit. As the animal on display he is a hybrid between a bijou baby chimp alternating scratching his head and quirky facial tics and the predatory poise of a carnivorous jackal protecting and simultaneously marking his territory. Durst was arrested for urinating on a cash register and a display of candy at a Houston CVS in June 2014.
This time around in the courtroom, Bob’s still largely-intact legal team will be defending a murder charge in the city of Angels where Durst is now likely considered somewhat of a celebrity due to the wildly popular miniseries in his honor. While most legal analysts agree that overcoming the odds of a man appearing to be speaking to his alter ego in the restroom on a hot mic actually admitting he ‘killed them all, of course”, is herculean even by LA’s celebrity acquittal record- there are the very obvious indications that Durst suffers from a spectrum of personality disorders. However, as Durst did consent to the interview and was told that the interview was completed, his commentary could be precluded from admission at trial as his “admission” and subsequent statements made by him were uttered with the expectation of privacy and not part of the interview. In an earlier episode Durst began speaking to himself without realizing the mic was still hot and producers informed him.
The LAPD has been quick to deny there is any link to The Jinx and the timing of Durst’s arrest one day before the season finale. In the handful of interviews Jarecki and Smerling gave just prior to the curtain call of reality that they are likely now witnesses in the murder case, Jarecki says that LAPD has had both the audio recording and the newly discovered letter to Berman for many months. On the surface considering Berman’s case is fifteen years cold, the timing does seem uncanny. Jeanine Pirro, former Westchester County District Attorney and chief bird dog in renewing her agencies vigor in the missing person case of Kathie Durst for six years -does not share the LAPD sentiment.
“…“These two producers did what law enforcement in three states could not do in 30 years, kudos to them. They were meticulous, they were focused, they were clear.” Jeanine Pirro
The prosecution in the Berman murder has its challenges in a high profile case where it cannot be disputed that evidence gleaned during the filming of “The Jinx” implicates Durst- IF -one is to believe in the forensic significance of document examination. One thing is certain- if expert testimony of the comparison of the letter Durst wrote Berman on his letterhead and the envelope and letter Durst himself states “could only come from the killer” revealed during the taping is admitted at trial, Durst will likely have a compelling explanation for it. It’s his thing. He chopped up a man and dumped him in the bay-sans his head, and convinced a jury he did that in self defense. This author is doubtful that had Durst not proposed the series of interviews that he would have been charged in Berman’s murder at all. Jarecki and HBO et al deserves Ms. Pirro’s kudos if indeed Jarecki went into the project objectively and investigatively.
Before Durst faces that left coast criminal court machine, he must answer the instant charges against him in New Orleans for firearm and drug possession- both of which were located in his hotel room when he was arrested on the Los Angeles warrant. As this article is scheduled to be published a source within the LAPD who is not authorized to comment on the case publicly, has confirmed to BlinkOnCrime that their office is receiving a flurry of calls from other agencies handling missing persons cases of young women.
And so it begins.
( *Authors note: I know, the thought of her out there with Adriana’s carcass to boot is too much to bear)
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Great piece Blink!
This case is a prime example of how big money can buy legal talent to make a jury believe that someone who cannot speak for themselves attacked the killer and lost his life in the process,
Dick Degerian is a top quality defense attorney. He was the one who finally pushed the government into burning down the Branch Dividian compound outside Waco, Texas. In that one, the ATF should have been disbanded and some people put in federal prison. That was the Clinton administration attacking the people.
Durst is a serial killer that has killed three and perhaps more that he concealed so well he was not even a suspect. Maybe this time,he will receive justice.
Thank you ATG. I have followed Durst’s case for years with great interest from my local ties- but more importantly- from a socio/psych perspective. When he was on the lamb in Galvaston parading as a mute women I knew he had some serious problems- and some serious psycopathy. As one of the investigators said in the series- he is not evil- he is diabolical. I believe that.
That said- he does not fit the description of a serial killer – he killed these folks during an argument and/or to avoid detection, not for a psychological need, however- it would not surprise me if we end up there. I believe until I see evidence otherwise, it is possible Ms. Berman was a contract hit and he was in town to make the cash payment. I say this because I believe Susan’s contacts help Durst dispose of his wife. I am not sure Durst would have sent the letter had he killed her himself.
B
He’s a crazy ol’ coot. FOR SURE!!!
When Durst cut up the neighbor and placed the body parts in a barrel,then dumped it into Galveston bay, it occurred to me that may be the way he disposed of his wife. Cut her up and put her parts in the garbage a little at a time or drove around and used multiple commercial trash containers.
This man has something very wrong with his mind. He may not be criminally insane,but has an evil streak that makes him destroy anyone whom he disagrees with.
To your point- I observed his interviews 3x. It is not enough to glean any professional findings so far, imo- however, it should also be noted Jarecki has over 25 hours of interview material that has been edited. We don’t know what it yields- but no doubt the LAPD ( possibly others) will.
I completely agree with you there is the possibility that he disposed of Kathie the same way. Although, right now- for me- I think Durst killed Kathie in haste and with passion. That leads me to believe he would never, ever desecrate her past what happened to her as she died. However, it cannot be ignored that he was sophisticated enough to dissect Black. I think knowing what Durst did to his wife may be pivotal to these other cases. But I believe if she was his first homicide- he made tons of mistakes and they have been overlooked.
I would not suggest there is no chance he might confess.
B
2 of the young women referenced in Blink’s article.
Robert Durst Could Be Linked To Disappearance Of Two California Teens In The ’90s
“In that case, police put out a composite drawing based on the recollections of the last person who saw Mitchell alive as she got into a car,” Birkbeck wrote in a NY Daily News article. “It was a spitting image of Robert Durst.”
http://laist.com/2015/03/18/robert_durst_california_teens.php
Somehow I just can’t see him as a suspect in either of these disappearances but if he truly was living in either area at the time and had potential connections to these girls it should be checked out.
B
This is an interesting person For a bad guy I read a book about him then kind of thought he was gone until I saw he was arrested Sunday. So I am reading what I can find Again Because his life is interesting
The concept of having the means to do anything and be anything and where he ends up is fascinating to me.
B
Thanks Blink
For covering Durst I appreciate it
After reading just a little on Durst (like the W Memphis 3, to read much is to soil one’s mind), my impression is a lifeline drug addiction may play a role in his current dementia, and lifelong he may have been self-medicating a constitutional mood disorder say with marijuana (when high, lending itself to wife murder in the heat of passion in response to a divorce conflict, or if psychotic, rendering murder more explanable.) One does not know if the Sheriff put him in a mental health facility as a danger to self out of management strategy, or drug withdrawal, or a mood disorder, or dementia.
I think Durst has a host of potential disorders and he does show psychopathic tendency, imo. He graduated from Lehigh in ’65 with a degree in economics was the treasurer of his frat and played Varsity LAX- so he was definitely high functioning (for a while anyway). With his Mother’s suicide and his admitted fear of having children I have to believe he knows a great deal of what he suffers from. I do think if he did kill Berman himself that he is at risk for suicide because his greatest asset in his acquittal previously was his ability to testify and polarize the jurors. I don’t know that he has that in him anymore. If one is to believe these “voices” he is responding to are accurate- he may be at a point where he confesses just so he can pick his prison terms, etc.
B
Very Interesting article Blink.
I never heard of Durst or the crimes that he is said to have committed.
Did he kill his wife, did he have her killed?
Did he kill his lawyer friend Did he have her killed?
He killed that man…and dismembered him…
but was acquitted for self defense…
What person would be open to sitting for a documentary against the advice of their lawyer? Would a guilty person… would an innocent person… would that person have to be a crazy person….
Participating in a documentary, and you have “related” posts linked to WM3-
I havent seen Dursts doc yet- but I wonder if there are those out there like with the WM3 case that believe that the Doc was favorable to Durst?
You wrote in yr response to TGF:
I have followed Durst’s case for years with great interest from my local ties- but more importantly- from a socio/psych perspective. When he was on the lamb in Galvaston parading as a mute women I knew he had some serious problems- and some serious psycopathy.
–
yes I can understand the fascination from just reading yr piece that fascination has started for me…
I hope you dont mind moderating my subsequent posts Blink as my newly found fascination and lack of previous knowledge of Durst has my thinking in overdrive.
Thank you for the introduction it is a very well written piece.
AJMO peace
correction not lawyer friend publicist friend…
She wasnt a lawyer was she? sometimes publicists are lawyers…
In yr article you wrote:
respectful snip
Durst is accused of killing his long-time friend turned publicist Susan Berman in 2000 after she informed him police from Westchester County, NY sought an interview with her about Kathie Durst’s disappearance in 1982.
end
—Blink Im unclear was Susan his friend AND publicist- did he hire her to keep publicity good? If so how long was she a publicist and His publicist?
– also from following the links provided in yr article to other links – ther seems to be some contradicting info making the rounds- in some articles it seems she was at first a writer/journalist…did she end that career, if so when?
Was she hoping to write a book on him?
How long were they friends and had she been a friend to his wife Kathleen?
TIA for any answers you can provide.
cont Part 2
Susan Berman was indeed a writer. She is an author, but the majority of her screenplays did not sell unfortunately, in later years. Susan became Durst’s publicicst/spokesperson when the inquiry into Kathie’s death began- and Robert stopped talking to LE. He fielded all press inquiries to her- and she also fed some information to the press that was NOT accurate or from LE- as an example that the doorman saw Kathie enter the building that evening. He did not.
That said- it is my opinion that Susan covered up Bobby’s murder of Kathie in so much as she was the one who called her supervising chief of staff (MED SCHOOL) and said she was not feeling well and would not be in that Monday. Considering the general belief is that it was Robert that called collect to Durst Org from Ships Bottom- it is also my belief that he secured help from some of Susan’s Dad’s contacts.
After seeing him interviewed I am certain Kathie is not in the area or lake behind the house in Salem. I do think he transported her in the boat to the pines, however.
B
If the author of that book I read was able to understand him really
It was interesting about his killing He seemed to have a way of thinking that made it seem like what had to be done
at the time, living as a mute woman was interesting
And the thing about his mother on the roof was the start of his thinking according to that book
All I know is you can read hundreds of true crime books and one will stay with you That was the Durst book for me
And he is a funny looking little man with all that money.
I do have to laugh about his stealing that chicken salad sandwich With a pocket full of money
I think you are right. Durst will surprise us with his version of a confession and it might make perfect sense IMO.
The question for the jury is Durst a diabolical killer or is he Jinxed
cont Part 2
Obliviously Durst, can shoot and kill then dismember-someone- then systematically dispose of the body ….at least given the “right” set of circumstances-
He killed his neighbor, dismembered him, then threw the body parts in the bay all “in self defense”
Warning graphic-
Blacks head was never found- did Durst claim he also threw the head in gavelston bay?
The prosecution claimed he did not- he was smart enough not to leave the most damning piece of evidence up to chance….
For without a head the prosecution could not prove against all reasonable doubt that Durst had shot Black in the back of the head- thereby leaving open Dursts version of events as reasonably possible if not entirely believable-
It seems Police have long thought Durst is/was a diabolical killer
Can the prosecution bring up Blacks killing and dismemberment, Blink?
If so The defense might argue
why would he not dispose of Blacks body parts in the same unfindable place as the head?
why would he leave a receipt with his name on it tying him to the trash bags with the gruesome remains of a bloody murder/dismemberment??
With Black, did he just get old sloppy and more “crazy” (not in a like a fox way but in a cant help himself be caught way), for if he killed his young wife and was able to hide her in such a wy as to never be found….why didnt he again dispose of Black in the same proven reliable manner…or did he, and its just that the tides were not on “his side” this time around?
or is it that there are no Pine Barrens in Texas?
another thought, if he killed his friend Susan, why did he not attempt to dispose of her body at all? why would he write a letter to police alerting them to her remains- She would have been discovered in her home murdered anyway- given time
The letter-
hndwriting analysts have made a match… or is it close to a match?
Im a bit leery of handwriting experts seeing as I have followed Blinks Ramsey case coverage etc and with that case there has been much contraversy indecision and bickering amongst the many handwriting experts- one expert having later disagreed with himself- his own previous findings…..
The letter in Susans case- said to be similar to Dursts because of the misspelling of “Beverley”
One need only google the words “Beverley Hills” to realize how common it is to misspell and not only that but google also helps one to realize that “Beverley Hills” is also a common spelling for such (correctly spelled) named businesses and areas such as in Northern Virginia and Florida
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22beverley+hills%22&gbv=1&prmd=ivnsm&ei=KfMKVYWuKYSYNqWwg-gD&start=20&sa=N
question- was the letter/envelop alerting authorities to the body published prior to Susans son finding and showing/handing over the Durst letter to the filmmakers?
Blinks article
respectful snip
It is believed that Durst may have used Berman’s mob boss Father’s contacts to dispose of his wife’s remains in “The Pines” of New Jersey.* During filming, Susan Berman’s son located a letter to Susan from Bobby Durst which he provided to Jarecki. The nearly identical block print style is further complimented by the exact same misspelled word- BEVERLEY.( *Authors note: I know, the thought of her out there with Adriana’s carcass to boot is too much to bear)
end
Question
How old was Susans son when she was murdered- Did police speak to him, show him the letter written by the killer back then?
Why did it take him so long to find the letter written to his mother by Durst- How did he realize that the style was potentially incriminating? why did he not immediately turn it over to police? why did he instead turn it over to the filmmakers?
question-
why did the letter recovered by Susans son have a “typed” portion of Dursts name and address with a handwritten adressee of his Mom?
The postage stamped date reads 1999 – was the stamp itself from 1999-
has the ink been tested for dating- – if no the defense will surely want it to be for without- whose to say when and by who the handwritten portion was written- was the letter inside handwritten? If so it seems there might be more handwriting of Dursts to compare against the killers announcement of the cadaver…
Question
The killers Cadaver letter- ws it tested for finger prints- for DNA on stamp or sticky closing flap? Does it match Durst? was the letter inside handwritten- if so was that lettering also a near match?
He does appear guilty as sin, but IMO its not gonna be an easy case to win if this is all they have
It may however be easier to prove crazy- what meds was/is he on- and will his defense play the insanity card?
More thoughts to come- thanks again Blink for covering this case and for allowing us to come along with you on this fascinating and horrid journey into the mind and history of Durst and the search for answers and justice for Kathleen, Susan and their loved ones
AJMO peace
1. He said all his remains were tossed into the bay. It is my belief that he used information from whomever may have helped him cover up Kathie’s murder to make sure the head was not with the remains- as in this case I believe it would probably not be consistent with his story they struggled over the weapon.
2. Unless Durst mounts a mental defense ( and even then, only possible, not probable) no prior bad acts can be introduced to the jury during trial. With that comes a slight exception as to the aggravator. The state is claiming Berman was a witness. In my view, that means she WAS interviewed by LE, and she did provide inculpatory evidence. ( at least she better have- because that must be proven- it cannot be that they “thought” she might be a witness just because they asked to interview her) SO… the State’s theory is that Berman was killed because of what she knew about Durst’s involvement ( and likely other criminal info) about Kathie Durst’s disappearance. Now- will a judge only allow the concept that she as a witness of some kind having something to do with an unstated matter- that is more likely.
UNLESS… ( lol, I don’t know how to articulate by typing the “out of breath’ feeling I have there are so many what ifs) In Durst’s Black trial- Durst openly admitted he was in hiding because he was Pirro’s suspect in Kathie’s disappearance. They used that to present their defense- which was successful.
If this case is to be defended- I believe that his defense strategy will be one that he is wrongfully persecuted and LE never investigated alternative suspects- a rush to judgement if you will based on the dramatization of the series. In a way- because the piece is highly edited- Jarecki is in the hotseat as to integrity and whether or not he acted as an agent of the State of CA.
Durst may have been on his own for Black’s disposal- and the difference between the fact that Black was located and Kathie never was is noteworthy, imo. There are definitely no pine barrens in TX.
Susan’s adopted son was an adult when she was murdered in 2000. To my knowledge and as was depicted in the series he came across the letter, called producers and arranged a meeting in which he was very, very upset. He believed Durst loved his mother like a sister, and he never believed he had a motive to harm her- that she would never betray him- as was true of almost everyone interviewed. What I believe is that she was desperate for cash, had found out that Durst married Debrah (also Jewish) as a marriage of convenience and decided that she had the screenplay that was going to end her woes. Why should she have an allegiance to the man that didn’t trust her enough to make her his wife if the fact that attraction or love did not matter? That said- I am not yet convinced he got his own hands dirty with Berman’s death. If that is true- I am supposing there is an informant. If it ALL BASED on the document exmplars and analysis I would be shocked because it is far from scientific- HOWEVER- I don’t know the results, but I do know that extensive testing was preformed on all materials. I am hopeful those results implicated Durst and that is what prompted the arrest.
Let me know if I missed anything
B
ps Blink if poor Kathleen was disposed of in the Pine Barrens like Adrianna in the Sopranos I hope she gave him hell just like Valery did when Christopher and Paulie attempted to get rid of him in the PB- I hope it resulted in much worse than a cold night spent w- a shoeless foot and a dinner of ketchup packets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Barrens_%28The_Sopranos%29
I appreciated yr attempt at lightening the somber and morbid mood while at the same time bringing to mind how easy it could be to rid yrself of “evidence” never to be found
A&P
Thank you Mom3.0. It is my favorite Sopranos episode of all time- if one has to choose. However, this is Adriana and Sil in the Pines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXtIr7lKZd8
B
wrt “What person would be open to sitting for a documentary against the advice of their lawyer?”
Someone with dementia.
Who he is now cognitively, is not equal to wbo he was early in his (alleged) criminal career.
Mother’s suicide is congruent with a constitutional mood disorder, often concommitant with substance abuse.
Agreed, and I should point out JINX was shot in 2012 and Bobby is now 71, so it is likely whatever he suffers from has advanced. I definitely saw signs of schizo which is also highly hereditary with a poor outcome and prognosis but as I said before he was high functioning through college so it lacks the early onset criteria.
B
“Let me know if I missed anything
B”
No way Jose. So much.
Just to correct some errors regarding pine barrens in Texas.
There is the area known as the “Big Thicket” that once extended from Buffalo Bayou North (Houston)two hundred miles and Eastward to the Texas-Louisiana line and then across the whole of North Louisiana. It has been partially tamed by civilization, but there are areas in and around the Angalina National Forest, Davy Crockett National Forest, Sam Houston National Forrest and others where pines grow over 100 feet tall with underbrush so thick that it is difficult to penetrate.
Much of the early industry in East Texas was lumber from these forests and it continues today. Since the mid-20th century, it is paper made from pine pulpwood. Get a map of Texas or use Google and follow I-45 & US Hwy. 59 North from Houston and Hwy. 90 East towards Beaumont. These three highways follow the forested lands at the Southern and Western edges of the area. It is easily 50,000 Sq.miles of timber lands.
In the mid-1950′s, the little town of Dibol (US 59) was a typical mill town with every building being wood including the sidewalks much like the old west towns replicated in the movies.
Durst, like many others, had little concept of the actual terrain and I believe that he simply used the most convenient way to dispose of his kill at Galveston, by using the bay and Gulf of Mexico.
Blink, I’m so glad we’re talking about Durst again. He is a goldmine for true crime buffs and people interested in the psychology behind it. (I mean, the dead dogs, the latex mask…you couldn’t make this stuff up.) Here are my thoughts on the Berman trial. I’m interested to see if you had the same ones.
Okay, so I’m probably being influenced by the fact that I live in Boston where we have not one but TWO huge murder trials going on at the same time: the Aaron Hernandez murder trial and the Tsarnaev marathon bombing trial. In both, there has been the issue of whether or not past crimes/associates can be brought up by either side and discussed in terms of motive. The judge has been very diligent about keeping Dzohar’s older brother Tamerlan out of it, which has hampered the defense’s argument that he was following his brother’s lead. In the Hernandez trial, the other things that Hernandez has been accused of doing – past shootings, etc – play a role in the prosecution’s contention of motive. Also, the defense is trying to claim that Hernandez and Lloyd were such good friends, and Hernandez could not have possibly had motivation to kill a good friend.
Anyway, this makes me think of legal strategy for the Berman case. Durst and Berman were longtime friends and confidants, which makes motive a big factor in this. The prosecution’s motive is contingent upon how much info the judge allows in about the Kathie Durst case, a case for which he has not been tried, only suspected, because otherwise Durst would have no known motive to kill her. Without motive, what they have is a mostly circumstantial case, and a victim with mob ties in her past and debts with many people that will definitely introduce reasonable doubt to the jury. So the D.A.’s case, really, hinges on what they are allowed to intimate about his involvement in Kathie’s disappearance – which means they are essentially trying two cases at the same time, because they need to also convince the jury that killing Kathie created that motive to cover it up. Then in a way you’re sort of forcing the NY DA’s hand in bringing charges against him for Kathie’s case, are you not? So I’m wondering how you think the Kathie Durst case will affect legal strategy and decisions with regard to Berman.
Hi Lindsay-
1. Great to see you
2. Read other posts if they pertain.
Prior bad acts are not admissible. Motive for murder is not a burden for a DA or prosecuting agency.
The only way I think the 2 cases intertwine is if Durst confesses.
B
I agree with you Blink on the serial predator aspect – he’s not a stalker or hunter of women. He kills when he’s under threat.
His dealings with his second wife are interesting to me. She has quite a real estate portfolio in NYC, and if you listen to his jailhouse calls with him, seems to exert a certain amount of power in the relationship. yet he resented having to give up that control in his relationship with Kathie – from the Jarecki interviews he said that he controlled everything with Kathie but admits he was starting to lose that power over her when they move back to NY, she wants a divorce, and starts looking into his assets. I think the same thing happened with Susan Berman – he could no longer control her with money and felt under threat. She threatened to expose him, and I think Morris Black did as well. I don’t see this with these two other women. He’s a creep, for sure, but I don’t think he’s going to bother with people who stay out of his business. I think the one person he enjoys stalking is his brother. I think that’s why he stayed in the country until the eleventh hour – 1. he’s a sociopath, craves risk, and he enjoys being on the edge of getting caught, which is why he probably thought he could handle the Jarecki documentary in the first place; 2. he likes for his family to fear him, to know that he’s far but not too far and can return at any time. That’s what I think his lingering around Douglas’s apartment are all about. He likes to toy with people to get a reaction, but he also gets off to some extent on the fear he creates in people.
It could also be an extreme fear of abandonment, created by his mother’s suicide. Kathie was going to leave him; Susan was going to turn on him. Who knows what Morris was going to do.
Thank you for taking the time and breath
To give such thoughtful indepth answers Blink
One part I hope you will clarify for me-
you responded IRT Susan:
respectful snip
That said- it is my opinion that Susan covered up Bobby’s murder of Kathie in so much as she was the one who called her supervising chief of staff (MED SCHOOL) and said she was not feeling well and would not be in that Monday. Considering the general belief is that it was Robert that called collect to Durst Org from Ships Bottom- it is also my belief that he secured help from some of Susan’s Dad’s contacts.
After seeing him interviewed I am certain Kathie is not in the area or lake behind the house in Salem. I do think he transported her in the boat to the pines, however.
B
–
I havent seen the Doc, but from yr response it seems I need to inorder to understand yr thoughts better? What I think you are saying here is that you believe Susan helped Durst after the fact by calling in an excuse for Kathleen AS Kathleen, giving the excuse for missing Mondays classes as illness?
Im not following yr second paragraph about Durst and a collect call and a ships bottom… nIm not understanding the reference to Susans fathers contacts helping…with the phone call excuse? sorry Blink if you could help me out Id appreciate it TIA
BTW FYI Jinx is on HBOgo and All Good Things is on Netflix
I hope to watch both maybe this weekend
Should I start with the Doc or the film in yr opinion?
I think the JINX does a fair job at outlining the facts of the case- to include inculpatory evidence regarding what I believe is Kathie’s final resting place. The docuseries for sure is your jump off point.
B
B
I am now on part 2 of the HBO show. I can not help but notice how very black Durst’s eyes are. There is no light there. I also have to say that I get the same “vibrations” of evil from Durst that I get from Jodi Arias. I would like to know if his second wife married him for protection regarding testifying against him? It appears she had interest in his money being kept from his family. Did she have means or did she need his money. They certainly were not living a normal husband wife life. So many more questions and I am only on part 2…yikes.
Shark eyes.
Not forensic, but I agree.
B
I am a long, long, long time lurker of this site but first time to post. I have followed the Durst saga since the Morris Black murder in Galveston years ago and live less than five miles from where Durst currently resides…or did reside until he was arrested in New Orleans last weekend.
Mom 3.0, regarding the receipt with Durst’s name on it…it was found in the trash cans/bins at the four-plex where both men lived in separate units. What led the authorities to the four plex was a newspaper that had the four plex address on it.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all shakes out.
Sorry, meant to say a newspaper that was found with the remains had the four plex address on it.
snip>
Judge Susan Criss, who presided at the Black trial, claims Durst took it one step further. She says she found a cat head on her doorstep, “a perfectly clean and preserved cat head, cut up by someone who knew what they were doing, lying right there. I strongly believe that it was Robert Durst,” she said in an interview.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/peta-angry-with-robert-durst-for-reportedly-beheading-cat/ar-BBivZV8
erose- thank you for posting that- I reviewed it and felt the inference was inflammatory- I no longer do- I agree with her Honor- that poor cat was a message from Durst-
B
Asperger’s (DSM V Autism Spectrum disorder) is what was mentioned as his diagnosis in the Galveston trial. I suspect his extremely well paid attorneys will pull a couple more diagnoses out of their hats.
Every defendant who goes against their lawyer’s advice is not suffering from Dementia. The ones that do, in my experience, tend to have personality disorders or have overdosed on stupidity. Demented patients don’t usually travel under assumed names or carry fake driver’s licenses/IDs. Durst had a gun and enough money to flee the country. He was a man with a plan.
OD’d on stupidity- instant classic Grace. I have never interviewed him and I am not qualified to test him as to ASPY- I presume we all agree that a highly edited series of interviews in this subject matter is not diagnostic.
That said- I absolutely agree he has Axis II markers.
B
Blink, Retired Judge Criss spoke out on Dateline last night as well. She was not shy about her opinions of him and his “self-defense” trial. I’m not sure she even mentioned the cat head, but what struck me about what she said was how in sync she was with my gut reaction to who dismembers someone. I mean people kill in self defense, that’s one thing, and people may even hide a body, that’s another thing, but the gruesomeness of what he did is depraved.
Thanks erose- I am going to watch the recording- I meant to link Criss’s interview with the NYP- I agree with you. I also read somewhere that Durst had a succession of 6 dogs that died in his care and it was a relative’s opinion he actually dissected them as “practice”. I am just not seeing a predatory or killing for psych or enjoyment purposes in Durst. In my view he absolutely killed Kathie, Susan and Morris- however I believe they were to protect his interests.
B
One of the interesting things Dateline pointed out about Susan Berman was that she was shot in the back of the head, but laid down face up, meaning someone “cared” about her. Sorry no link, but it’s on my DVR.
RE Kathy says:
March 20, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Hello and WELCOME Kathy-
Thank you very much for stepping out of lurking to correct that bit of misinformation.
I hope you will continue to post as I am sure I and others would be extremely appreciative of yr long held knowledge and insights into this case
—
TGF, Nice to see you thanks for sharing there are the equivalent “Pine Barrens” in Texas. I agree with yr thought it might be:
Durst, like many others, had little concept of the actual terrain and I believe that he simply used the most convenient way to dispose of his kill at Galveston, by using the bay and Gulf of Mexico
Lyndsay, after reading yr post and Blinks response- Im thinking since prior bad acts cant come in- it will be interesting to see what sort of case the Prosecution will present.
GraceintheHills says:
March 21, 2015 at 12:32 am
Great post- a man with a plan- yep sure seems like it
–
Blink thanks The Doc it is.
AJMO peace
erose, thanks for the link-
very interesting- for a judge to make that sort of accusation wow- that crime alone could have put Durst away for a long while youd think…
The quote by Andrew Jarecki, “I personally don’t think Bob had seven dogs. I don’t believe that Doug has the details accurately in any way, he describes them as malamutes but Bob always had Norwegian Elkhounds,” Jarecki said in a January interview. “Bob is not the most gregarious person in a crowd, he is probably much more comfortable with his dogs.”
-Couldnt be argued that he Durst wase “the most comfortable” with his first wife– deranged killer wouldnt care would he? and having the breed wrong- thats not that big of a “write off” as lie for me…
In reading the “Exclusive” link
Judge Susan Criss presided at Durst’s trial for shooting and dismembering his neighbor in Galveston, Texas, in 2003. He was acquitted. She believes Durst also dismembered his dogs.
Is this Judge still a Judge? What judge would sit for “Inside Edition” and make scary unproven accusations against a man to whom she presided over the trial in which he was acquitted?
“He had seven dogs and he named every one of them ‘Igor’ and they all came to some unnatural deaths. Some very bizarre unnatural deaths.”
Judge Criss said, “While he was standing there he thought about ‘doing an Igor.’ And his wife tells him, Debrah tells him, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop Bob! This is recorded.’”
Judge Criss said “Igor” was Durst’s code-word for murder.
I mean after the dismembered cat head was found- on a judges door step wasnt Durst investigated for threatening the judge killing an animal…
If not then it seems rather unprofessional for this Judge to give this interview and make these statements-
AJMO Peace
From Eroses link I read something that gave me pause-
http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/9983-exclusive-judge-claims-robert-durst-left-cat-head-on-doorstep-and-killed-dogs-for-practice
He(durst) also had brain surgery. Dr. Roshini Raj says the surgery may account for some of the bizarre behavior seen in his interviews for the HBO Documentary, The Jinx.
Dr. Raj told INSIDE EDITION, “When someone undergoes neurosurgery, there occasionally can be damage to certain nerves that effect the facial muscles and you may develop tics or twitches after it.”
–
He had brain surgery before the Docs? Is this the only info the defense needs to argue- against his “confession” ?
Also I was pondering on the cadaver letter/Susan 1999letter-
Durst is now an old man- who has had brain surgery on top of ? His style of writing now has to be considerably different from his earlier writings- with age alone- when did he have brain surgery and for what reason?- —Im thinking if he sat for “comparisons” it wouldnt place him as the writer as easily as it once might have in earlier years….
A&P
I would have to know exactly what neurosurgery he had- there are some surgical indications for acute psych conditions I am aware of, but all are for different conditions.
I don’t love this Judge giving opinions on things she read or was told and is hearsay. She is also basically saying that her jury made the wrong call- which, as I watched the trial and researched transcripts- I would argue that the prosecution could never meet their burden as charged and there was no abuse of a corpse law in TX at the time.
B
RE Ode says:
March 20, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Hi Ode – interesting thoughts- yr comparison to JA and Durst- well on top of the eyes they also according to Erose link, share a propensity to “stalk” and “peer”thru windows
snip:
In a recorded jailhouse conversation with his wife, Debrah Charatan in 2001, Durst even tells how he crept up to his estranged brother’s home and peered through a window.
end
Is it only me that reads the words “sharks eyes” in the voice of Robert Shaw “Quint” from the USS Indianapolis clip in the movie JAWs?
snip
Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he’s got… lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eye.
end
AJMO Peace
The first thing I thought when I saw the promos for JINX- was shark eyes. Definitely not a diagnostic or analyst term- but I know ‘em when I see ‘em and he has them.
B
@Grace. I based my suggestion on age, years of apparent drug use, and the quality of his rambling on camera while in the bathroom, among other indicia. Some clinician working for LE diagnosed at least a situational suicidal depression for his current incarceration location & orders.
I agree going against lawyer’s advice
is not an indicia of dementia, and may be the opposite.
Is Durst an Old man at age 71? Perhaps, but people age at different rates. Some begin to become old at age fifty-five. It is a matter of mental development and heredity along with choices that affect one’s outlook.
I am older than Durst and when I was his age I was teaching music daily for over eight hours. Activity keeps one’s mental and physical capacities working.
Blink and all you posters keep me mentally sharp. Thanks for putting up with some of my generational views.
I will be doing a two hour orchestra rehearsal from 2 to 4 P.M. today.
I agree with you that his acuity is not “aged”. I guess this may sound “generational” as well, lol, but there is a sort of mental picture I develop when I am certain- positively certain I have a good grasp of an offender’s profile. Not nearly as good as I would have should I interview him personally or observe an unedited view with specific targeted questions of course- that goes without saying.
My observations of Durst are that he practices slowing his speech pattern because he is replaying his response in his head first. There is more than one person swirling around in his mind- not literally, but he has auditory feedback going on. What was heard in the bathroom was just him thinking he was ok to respond to it. His cadence and syntax changed drastically. Specifically where he says- “I am having difficulty with the question.”
In my view he has strong signs of dissociative identity disorder. There are many that say why would you believe the words of a man that is a triple murderer- in some cases I don’t. In Durst- I find his truthfulness in many instances is tantamount to an explanation for why he hates “what he is”
B
http://nypost.com/2014/12/10/crossdressing-robert-durst-busted-for-getting-too-close-to-his-family/
“They give me a shunt,” said the dapper-suited family pariah, showing off a large bump and scar on the side of his head. “They drill a hole in your head and they run a line down to your stomach.
“My balance never got better. Not having balance is terrible. We think it started in 2009-ish when I first started falling down. There’s too much pressure in my brain; this is supposed to drain the fluid out.
*********
This explains one surgery he would have had on his brain.
Ode- it is entirely possible. At his age, I am just not buying that explanation.
B
I made it through the 6 HBO shows yesterday. So many things to digest. It was a little relief this morning that I did not have to watch another one of the 6. They showed so many pictures of him with family and he does not smile. He says several times that ever body lies. His explanation of the drink with the neighbors after dropping his wife at the train station was told by him to the police and he thinks…they will just believe him….why would they check with the neighbor? That reminds me of Jodi Arias. Believing what ever they tell someone lie or not should be believed. His response that it was just a “negotiation” or words to that effect so lying is just the tool to get to the end was chilling.
During his muttering in the bathroom I do wonder what he meant by “What will they find at the house?” Was the house his current residence that was just searched after his last arrest? He carried around a picture of Kathy and himself from their wedding and he had Morris Black’s driver’s license with him when he was arrested. I wonder if he carried around a picture of him and Susan? He did ask for the picture of himself and Susan that he was shown in the last interview. Maybe these pictures are like souvenirs to him.
I agree, I don’t know why this judge is going to tabloids with this info. It looks unprofessional and serves no purpose. Maybe she got a lot of flack for his acquittal and is using this as a means of defending herself now? I really have no idea.
Also, fyi, several sources are saying Durst has hydroencephalitis and he had a stent put in his head, which can be seen in the latest pictures. Also, his lawyer claims he isn’t suicidal, but he does have medical issues, so I assume they put him in a medical wing to receive treatment while in jail, but somehow that got interpreted by the press as suicide risk.
Blink, I disagree that motive doesn’t pay a role in the prosecution’s case in Berman. They have no weapon, they can place him in California but not exactly in Los Angeles, no witnesses, and handwriting analysis that will be refuted. I think they absolutely need motive to prove their case, especially since Berman and Durst were such good friends before this. The defense will also bring into play her mob ties and financial problems as reasonable doubt most definitely. The prosecution needs to bring Kathie Durst into it to prove Durst’s motive. I just think there is too much reasonable doubt otherwise.
@ATG, I appreciate your take on age. Robert Durst looks like a 90 year old to me. My own father will be 71 in June, swims every day, and has never smoked, and I’m pretty sure will be out snoveling snow every day (he insists on it!) until he’s 90. It really is a mental state but also how well you take care of yourself. I would imagine Durst’s stress and mental state as well as his habits have done a number on him. He looks like a haunted man, literally.
1. Lyndsay- I didn’t say motive would not play a role- what I said was that it will be up to a judge as to whether it comes in because it would alert the jury to the fact that Durst is a suspect in another crime for which he has never been charged- That would fall under prior bad acts or Rule 403 ( probative v prejudicial) as would his murder acquittal. The prosecution has a very uphill battle meeting a burden where a Judge allows a circumstantial and uncorroborated motive into a murder case when the prosecution is NOT REQUIRED to present motive ( legally speaking) in the first place and a jury can absolutely be instructed to not contemplate or consider motive. To your point- YES, a critical factor here is Durst’s need to silence Berman- if they can prove she was a material witness and they can prove Durst was aware of her intentions in that regard.
I don’t see that coming in unless the defense stipulates it or opens the door through some other means. I have spoken to quite a few colleagues who have some inside information on the case and they are not at all confident that LAPD has anything but the letter and they were basically forced to arrest Durst because of the finale of the series where it is so completely blatant Durst wrote the “cadaver” note. That said- as we all know, there are always very converse explanations for circumstantial evidence and the closest I have ever seen Durst tie himself to that crime is admitting he was in “the big state.” No investigator to my knowledge has ever been able to tie him to Beverley Hills. Unless LAPD is holding onto something ( and I have to say I am going to doubt that as Jarecki would have been all over it) huge- it is my personal opinion that Durst was arrested because he was headed to Cuba and LE felt they had no choice. Everette Ward was about to leave the US and Jarecki was about to expose a break in Berman’s case that could have and should have been discovered 15 years ago.
So in my mind, Durst has a highly defensible case- and moreover, I am not convinced he was the trigger person in the first place. And in my view, a jury would have to absolutely and unequivocally believe he pulled the trigger.
B
I don’t think we can draw psychological inferences after 2009, including wrt tv episodes, or speech patterns, if the man had verifiable hydrocephalus requiring a permanent shunt and had initial & persistant
neurological symptoms such as balance. If balance is impaired, likely also affected would be language & executive functions. The man deserves neuropsych testing in his forensic mental health placement facility.
http://nypost.com/2014/12/10/crossdressing-robert-durst-busted-for-getting-too-close-to-his-family/
It is unfortunate family did not attempt to commit him as danger to others while they were about getting their ROs.
I want to say that was part of a “deal” to removed him from the family interests with a payout of about $65million, which was largely spear-headed but his wife Charatan. She was very concerned Doug Durst’s lawyers strategy was to have him committed- and in that process annul their marriage as if he was unfit to give her POA. Iirc, the deal was finalized in 2006. As they wanted him out- there was no way to say he was “cray” yet that he could agree to their offer so that option was no longer a valid one.
Yes, I hope he has a complete psych eval and suspect he will.
B
Durst is certainly not your average type person. The operation to place a shunt around a damaged artery feeding the brain would not correct a problem with some forms of dizziness.
The human gyroscope is located in the fluid reservoir of the inner ear. If that set of nerves that read the fluid position and transport information to the brain are affected, then one has no clue as to body position. This condition is often a part of one’s physical heredity and can appear at any time. My mother was affected in this way and as a result, she could not ride a bicycle due to lack of balance.
Blink, I agree with your concept of Durst being slow of speech due to his habit of mentally trying out what he wants to say prior to speaking the words. He probably carries out this habit all the time with audiation when he is alone. This could explain the conversation with himself that was caught on the live microphone while he was in the bathroom.
Saw the movie. Caught the 6th part of Jinx series (the confession). Reading all the posts. Awesome possum, as always, friendies.
Just can’t process this dude. Regardless of his ‘cray cray’ mental state, he’s clearly possesses kind of sound mind/capability to cover up, run, dismember, etc. I personally believe he set himself up to appear a few sammies short of a picnic. Asperger’s has been mentioned. If what I’ve learned from parents, whose child has this syndrome, they are not capable of manipulation.
Epilogue…jaw dropped when I heard the confession. Or did I? LOL
Peace out xo xo xo
To the point about him talking to himself – I have a friend who I believe to have a mild undiagnosed aspbergers. He has a successful career as an engineer and has a genius level of intelligence, but is often socially awkward. He talks to himself a lot, just to prepare for high-stress situations. It is in a lot of situations a rehearsal of sorts. He freely admits that he also talks to himself when he is stressed out by a situation at work, but that it helps him work out his problems communicating things effectively, since he is slow to interpret body language. I don’t know about the Asperbergers part but I think Durst talks to himself partly as a coping mechanism in stressful situations to rehearse what he wants to say beforehand. My mother does this too, in more stressful times. (she also talks a LOT in her sleep, all of us do actually, and I don’t know if that is related as well).
Blink, I’m wondering what you think of this new possible link to the Lynne Schultze case. Are police all over the country now throwing into the hat any disappearances in his vicinity? Or is there some validity to this?
“Investigators have been aware for several years of a link between 18-year-old Lynne Schulze and Durst, who operated the All Good Things health food store in the town, the Middlebury Police Department said in a statement.”
http://nypost.com/2015/03/24/vermont-police-link-1971-student-disappearance-to-robert-durst/
Durst was not a Middlebury regular until after ’73- the year he married Kathie. If there is a connection to Schulze, I am not aware of it. I expect nearly any unsolved cases in areas where he has ties that match a timeline will be reviewed- but I am not of the opinion so far he is a predatory serial killer or general offender in that way.
B
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/21/nyregion/in-robert-durst-murder-case-authorities-seize-personal-papers-used-by-filmmakers.html?_r=0
***
A good article talking about things belonging to Durst being taken from yet another woman’s home. I would bet this was the house that Durst was muttering about at the end of his last interview.
Becerra is a complete idiot for taking those docs from Giordono without a warrant. Some investigators never learn. I would be willing to bet Giordano called Degerin and told him the NY State Police investigator showed up and said give me everything or I will come back with a warrant and he said- don’t tell him you spoke to me but give it to him- without a warrant or probable cause it will end up suppressed. Because it will. If he could have gotten a warrant he would have.
B
@Ode – It also makes me wonder though what involvement this woman “friend” has in the rest of his crimes. Durst seems to have several female friends who are willing to do almost anything for him. What is the deal with that? Are they hoping to be named in his will or something?
Blink writes:
Susan’s adopted son was an adult when she was murdered in 2000. To my knowledge and as was depicted in the series he came across the letter, called producers and arranged a meeting in which he was very, very upset
——–
I have this fact from the most reliable source possible. and though I think it was touched on lightly in the doc, and is accessible info, it bears repeating that Durst paid for a complete college education , around 200 k. To me this is another example of how means can affect ones perception of someone else,, and that Durst knew exactly how to keep the son’s allegiance and idealization in tact after Berman’s demise. Nice hat trick to position himself as a sympathetic benefactor to a young ( at the time) , bereft man.
Who- in the JINX- he denies he ever received the promised $25k per year for 4 years for his education as Durst was arrested shortly thereafter.
I can tell you this as a general comment- Durst has spent likely hundreds of thousands cleaning up his paper trails.
B
Got it and absolutely fine by me.
B
On another note- I went through the search warrants and inventory reports yesterday. This is a very flimsy case to try a 15 year old homicide. There is no doubt in my mind that LAPD arrested Durst because of what the public reaction would be to the HBO series. It should be noted that in the film “All Good Things” Durst sent Morris Black to murder Susan Berman. I don’t recall Jarecki addressing that distinction in the JINX.
B
There was a lady on the Today Show this AM that dated Durst in 2000 in Dallas. She said that in one of his bedrooms in his apartment that he had a bare concrete floor…and a saw (I think she said). When they asked the landlord on camera why he had a concrete floor in one of his bedrooms she stated that he had told them he worked with a lot of chemicals. Very weird.
Do you mean Houston Ode?
B
http://www.today.com/video/today/57162331#57162331
Here is the link to the interview this morning. It was his Dallas Apartment and it was a concrete floor in one bedroom and a SAW…hmmmmmm
Geeze you are exactly right Ode. A labor lawyer with 2 daughters who graduated from Harvard as well. Why would a labor attorney need to work with caustic chemicals?
I hope nobody takes this the wrong way- I am a clinician about this guy- but he is fascinating.
B
blink writes:
For the film ” All Good Things ” the filmmakers approached the fictional film in accordance with the background as a documentarian, gathering detail culling from every ble at the time. But it was ultimately a film, not a documentary.
Durst reached out to the distribution company after the release of All good things wanting to speak with Jareki. As a result of the conversational exchange in that first meeting, they went forward with the doc, and it was durst himself who turned over the files to the documentary filmmaker- the files that that ended up at Giordano’s house, via Charatan, three years ago, when the doc was completed.
Self financed over a period of almost four years by Jareki himself, it too a while to find the right deal and best means to show it- six episodes on HBO was the ticket.
In keeping with all documentaries, there are hours of unedited film remaining. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see an ” episode 7″ if there are no legal ramifications of doing so.
Who- why do you think Giordano turned them over without a search warrant?
B
What Mr Durst said at the end of the HBO documentary that is regarded as something of a confession, can easily be explained away. His state of mind when he made those comments cannot be determined, only speculated on. What I guess i`m trying to say is that he can easily explain those comments as being made in a sarcastic tone, mocking the documentary makers.
Mr Durst seems to love toying with LE and is arrogant in his attempts to outsmart them. Ignoring the advice of his attorney was a mistake but then he always seems to be two steps ahead and knows how to cover his tracks well.
Handwriting comparison can be very subjective and I would fear that there is not enough in the handwritten note mailed to LE to get a compelling enough argument for the author to be Mr Durst, to the exclusion of anybody else.
If this was a three-page ransom note (like seen in another unrelated case) you would have a lot more to compare and would produce a more compelling argument. LE need more than handwriting similarities to nail this on Robert Durst.
If there`s a trial he will walk, again.
Liam- if all there is- is already known in terms of evidence, I absolutely agree with you. I would also offer I am not at all convinced Durst murdered Berman himself.
If that investigator ( Coulter?) who opined it was Durst because Susan was “turned on her back by someone who cared about her” is serious- I am even more worried. I have seen the crime scene images- I do not know how he interpreted that. She was laying on her own legs behind her back- in my view- this was someone trained to double check that the intended victim was deceased.
B
Something else that has me wondering is why would a father drag his 7 year old son out of bed to watch his mother jump to her death. Was he a monster or could he have been a loving husband that was either trying to save his wife by saying how can you leave your first born son or even more ominous had the son done something the mother could not deal with and the husband, father wanted the son to say he would not do whatever again. I know this is completely out there and only a “what if” but we know how many serial killers start out in life and the cement floor and saw in Dallas threw me today. In this Vanity Fair article from 12 some years ago it stated that Durst was a sculptor. Did he have an admiration for the human form? Would he want to dissect? All just out there thinking I know. One last thought, in the Vanity Fair article it seems that Morris Black was a sort of enigma. Rumors seem to have been that there was an abnormal possible relationship between Durst and Black. Could the two of them been up to absolutely no good? I think it would really be interesting to know if all the blood found in both Durst and Black’s New Orleans apartment was in fact all from Black?
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2015/03/robert-durst-murders-wife-susie-berman
Ode- in the film- it is presented when Durst ( Marx in the film) confronts his Father about why he made him watch his mother jump- his father answers that he thought if she saw him that she would not. In JINX- Durst does not say he saw her fall- only that he waved to her and then a short time later the maid is screaming she was “off the roof”. In a deposition involving a law suit between he and his family- when asked how his Mother died he only answered that “she died a violent death.”
I know his family has disputed his version but frankly I believe Durst did see her jump because of something he said in interview I found a natural memory and/or response. He said (para) that it was a very long fall, it took a long time. He went on to say at the funeral they were lowering the casket into the ground and a relative said something like in her coffin she would be at peace- and he freaked out realizing she was in the “box” and told people to get his Mom out of the box.
At the age of 7 I was still reading to my son and laying down with him for 2 minutes when I tucked him in at night- I want to say on occasion he would get up at night and crawl into bed with us (on my side) as well. I cannot fathom the emotional and psychological damage of being a witness to one’s Mother leaping to her death and the ensuing trauma as a seven year old.
B
Who- why do you think Giordano turned them over without a search warrant?
B
—–
As I understood the article I read about Giordano, she was told she could either just turn the files over or they would come back with a search warrant, giving her a choice. My question would be: does the fact that she turned them over without being given a search warrant qualify in any way as illegal search and seizure, and if so. would that then eliminate their usage for the prosecution?
Is it conceivable that Giordano had personal reasons for wanting to rid of those files, to be out of this, period?
Many people have now come forth with stories about Durst, Is this because they feel a certain safety now that he is behind bars and based on a presumption that he is finally ” caught” and therefore would never again pose any threat to them?
Jumping way ahead, am I the only one who thinks his amazing lawyers will get him off, again?.
You are not, as I have been commenting since the beginning- I believe LAPD has a very flimsy circumstantial case- after reading the warrants. It is true that they could be withholding something but I doubt it.
As I opined, in my view Becerra is a ninny for even seeking those files without a warrant. It makes no sense whatsoever- I know how he got the whiff they were there- but it is also going to prove that Durst doesn’t have a need to kill friends who have information on him. It is my opinion Giordana knew to ask for a warrant- consulted with counsel and she told them those files do not belong to her so she had no right to withhold them- even though they were in her home. Effectively, she is going to get thrown out any and everything in those files via Becerra’s error. If he could have attained a warrant he would have done so- I don’t believe he is this unskilled.
B