Robert Durst

Robert "Bobby" Alan Durst (born 1943) is a son of the late New York real estate mogul Seymour Durst, and brother of commercial developer Douglas Durst.

Durst grew up, one of 4 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 while her son watched.

According to Reader's Digest, Durst underwent extensive counseling because of it, and doctors found that his "deep anger" could lead to mental 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, which is reportedly worth about $650 million. The appointment, in the 1990s, caused a rift between Robert and his family, and he became estranged. Durst was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in adulthood, implying that his earlier schizophrenia diagnosis was incorrect.

In 1973, Durst married Kathleen McCormack, who disappeared in 1982. On December 24, 2000, Durst's long-time friend, Susan Berman, was found murdered execution style in her Benedict Canyon house. Durst was questioned but not charged in both cases.

Robert 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, after trying to steal a chicken sandwich and a Band-Aid, even though he had $500 cash in his pocket. He hired well-known defense attorney Dick DeGuerin and claimed self defense. The Galveston jury acquitted him of murder in 2003.

External links

* [http://www.courttv.com/trials/durst/ Complete Court TV coverage of Robert Durst criminal cases]
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/15/48hours/main606443.shtml Mystery Of Robert Durst, CBS News, September 8, 2004] ]
* [http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/robert_durst/1.html All about millionaire murderer Robert Durst]
* [http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2004/02/25/cover_story/cover.txt Cold Case: Who Killed Susan Berman?] by Cathy Scott, "Las Vegas CityLife," February 2004.

References

* Cathy Scott, "Murder of a Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Death of Susan Berman", 2002 ISBN 1569802386