UPDATE: TMZ has news in Durst Case.
So this is a story that hit the news this weekend when Robert Durst was arrested in New Orleans. I had not heard of this HBO series until that occurred but now I am in the process of binge watching the six episodes. I’m not sure if any of you are interested, but I thought I’d put up a post anyway.
I won’t have much to add until I’m finished watching the series. It will probably be late tonight or tomorrow before that happens. In the meantime, feel free to comment about the case here.
About the Series (From HBO site)
From Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling (the Oscar® nominees behind Capturing the Friedmans ), comes The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, a six-part examination of the reclusive millionaire at the heart of three killings spanning four decades. Robert Durst, the scion of a New York real estate empire, has long been a suspect in the notorious 1982 disappearance of his wife, Kathie. Further suspicion was raised with the unsolved killing of his confidante, Susan Berman, thought to be a key witness in the investigation into Kathie’s disappearance in 2000, as well as the subsequent killing and dismemberment of a neighbor in Galveston, Texas. Durst has consistently maintained his innocence and remains a free man today.
Durst was arrested last Saturday, the night before the final episode of the series. The NYT has a lengthy piece on the subject. Here is an excerpt. I didn’t read the rest of it very carefully because I am binge watching the series as I type.
Count me in! I’m settling in to watch the series myself
Be sure not to stop watching too early on demand. Especially episode 4 which I was just watching…â
On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 5:57 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I’m an hbogo girl. I have charter so I know better than to bother with on demand.
I’ve been watching this series. I remember the case back when the Galveston case happened. So interesting!!!
I finished the whole thing. Damn that was good. *Buuuurp*
The Buuuuurp would indicate that you are a little cornered, ala Mr. Durst!
I’m innocent! Promise! *blinks hard*
It’s a TWITCH!
Now they are saying he had a latex mask and a fake idea and was funneling money out of the country.
On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 5:25 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Damn. A latex mask is hard core!! Also a heads up; Dateline is having a special episode on Durst this evening at 8 EST
I watched this last night. It is SOOO good.
Ryan Gosling starred in the movie “All Good Things” a few years ago that was based on this guy. The movie was okay but really helped put this documentary into perspective because I knew what to look for in it.
This guy was so cocky because “All Good Things” was based on him getting away with murder that he contacted the director of the movie and asked to be interviewed. That’s how the documentary came about.
That seems very psychopathic of him. They can’t resist gloating to themselves about how they got away with it.
I’ve been watching HLN with Robin with all the updates ….Krazy …:-(
So incredibly well done. A not to be missed Docu-Drama!
Binge watched the entire 6 episodes last night after I heard about his arrest. Seen his story a few times featured on various investigative shows. It was a real page turner. Couldn’t stop watching. With his arrest I will be staying tuned to his trial. The Galveston trial was a huge shocker.
I have been watching this and was fascinated by it! Looking forward to hearing your take and everyone else’s too!!
I am going to binge on it this weekend! Looking forward to it, is that sad that it is Monday and the excitement for my upcoming weekend is to watch tv…
I’ve been fascinated with this story for many years. They did an excellent job on the documentary, it was brilliant. Enjoy it, Tamara!
I was watching episodes 4 & 5 last night & thought, “I wish TT would recap this show.” What perfect timing! Thanks, TT. I’m going to watch episode 6 tonight (after I finish the Drag Race recap).
Also, it really creeped me out that on his way to murder Susan Berman, Robert Durst made a phone call from my tiny, rural town in Northern California (Garberville). We’re right off the 101 but still in BFE. No one ever comes here.
I love Garberville!
You know my teeny, tiny town! I love it when I’m reminded what a small world this is.
Dick DeGuerin was the protege of Percy Foreman and famous Texas lawyer Racehorse Haynes, whose defense of Dr John Hill for poisoning his wife, and T Cullen Davis for the attempted murder of his wife as well as attempting to kill the judge in his divorce made Racehorse a legend. It also inspired two books about those trials, Blood Will Tell, and Blood And Money. The Jynx was riveting and there are several books about Durst also.
I am a reader of true crime books and I follow certain cases in the media, sometimes extensively. I’m glad that you are posting about this TT. It will be a interesting case to follow with the upcoming trial he will face. I followed the news reports on this case over the weekend and I think that karma has finally caught up with this nutwhack! I have been following this guy and his murderous ways since his trial in TX where he killed and dismembered his landlord. I watched a ton of the trial proceedings and found it shocking when he was acquitted. I could not for the life of me see why or how the jurors came to that conclusion. Its maybe one thing to kill in what he says was “self defense” but then to dismember the body in the detailed way that he did and the effort he made in covering up the crime, makes it hard for me to believe it was self defense.
All I know is that the guy gives me the creeps through the TV screen. While I believe he is mentally ill in some fashion, I don’t believe that he his insane. He’s a creepy little rich fuck who thought he could get away with murder….3 times. I hope he goes away for life for the murder he was just arrested for.
He is creepy. The perfect subject for a story such as this. I definitely feel he talks to some other personality in his head conversationally that sort of advises him. It reminded me of that movie with Kevin Costner where he played this weird killer and spoke to his alter ego (played by William Hurt). Not like a schizophrenic though. Like you said, he’s not insane, but he is a brilliant prevaricator. His mother’s suicide is what made him snap. Caused a different kind of mental illness no one ever put in check. I don’t think I believe that is father dragged him to a window to wave at his mother before she jumped off the roof. That would have been so cruel. But would explain some things.
I don’t find him creepy at all. I find him quite charming and likeable.
This disturbs me greatly and reinforces my desire to stay far, far away from people.
On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 7:03 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I found myself hoping against hope he didn’t do it and just felt just sad for him at the end. Wtf is wrong with me? He seems like someone who was messed up from a young age and never got over it. And how he kept stalking his brother says a lot about his life and state of mind. Fascinating how such a psych can evoke compassion from so many ppl.. That’s a talent.
It’s his black eyes. He almost doesn’t have any whites of his eyes. Makes him look possessed. But he can charming, just like a demon.
I watched this every week. It was fantastic!
I’d love to comment on the show itself, but don’t want to spoil anything until you are all finished.
I look forward to hearing yours and everyone’s comments on it.
Oooohh! I can’t wait to watch this. I’ve got to get through finals before I can get into it but I would definitely love to read your recaps, T. You know I love the criminals!
I’m glued to it, now that he’s been arrested here! I’m very invested. I find it interesting that he admitted to murder and mutilating the corpse and dumping the corpse in the ocean AND also going back to grab the skull… Then, walked free on “self defense”.
Lightening can’t strike three times, right? He killed those people … Right?
Durst sublimely walks through this world as casual as a stroll through Central Park on a sunny day. As if one day he might just take in a show or maybe today he just feels like killing somebody. His decision on which registering the same volume of emotion. He’s a sociopath. He’s Hannibal Lecter and Ted Bundy all rolled in one. Yes, he killed them all, of course! I love this shit.
He is truly one of the scariest people on the planet. I really hope they can make the charges stick.
I’m wondering if the HBO production could impede justice. With all of this exposure, everyone is going to have an opinion and how will they be able to select an impartial jury. They must have more evidence than just the letter to the police and the envelope he addressed to Susan Berman. His so-called confession “I Killed Them All, of course” might not even be allowed if his lawyer argues that his right to privacy was presumed. I think he’s guilty. But those lawyers of his are going to put on a trial worth watching; and he’s the same four he had in Galvaston. They’re all 15 years older, damn this is interesting. I wish they would televise it, damnit.
I am in for reading about case I have followed on TV crime shows and been intrigued. I do not have HBO but will read your tales. Shoot, I missed the weekend news too.
Angel someone mentioned HLN is mentioning it a good bit. HLN has about an hour or two of new content everyday. They just replay it over and over. So you can’t really miss it.
On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Okay if you are waiting on me to be caught up, I am. I think you guys are much more the expert than me. I’m new to the whole story. Feel free discuss whatever.
I really hope it is aired somewhere. Hell maybe HBO would air the trial on one of their many channels.
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
> Angel someone mentioned HLN is mentioning it a good bit. HLN has about an > hour or two of new content everyday. They just replay it over and over. So > you can’t really miss it. > > On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Tamara Tattles [email protected]> wrote: > >>
Started watching this since it first premiered. I’m a true crime junkie. I’ve got to say that the last few minutes of last night’s episode were the most arresting I’ve ever seen. I felt like we were looking deep into the soul of a truly demented person. It creeped me out like nothing I’ve ever heard before. It seemed almost otherworldly.
Thanks for the heads up. I cant wait to watch the documentary! Fascinating case so I am happy you will be blogging about it.
I shouldnt be surprised at jury verdicts anymore but I am still stunned that he killed his neighbor in “self defense”, chopped and dismembered the body into pieces to hide evidence, admitted it and yet still got a Texas jury to acquit him of murder.
Josie, I was reading comments, without popcorn, on another news site about this case. The daughter of one of the jurors on this trial posted that her mother had wanted to convict him, but without the head of Morris Black, they could not discern whether the victim was shot in the front (denoting a defensive wound) or back of the head. So, they had to acquit him.
Just over the news wire: Robert Durst has been charged with murder.
Um where do you live that this is just over the news wire? Perhaps had you read this post….You could have found out before your neighbors with the rest of the world who found out when it happened on Saturday, thus starting the numerous topics all over the Internet about it.
Arrested on Saturday. Officially charged today with murder. Or maybe it’s a slow news day here.
Associated Press. Wasn’t officially charged with First Degree Murder until today.
Omg yes! I’ve watched the series twice!
Yes!
1) Watch Capturing The Friedmans, by the same film makers. GREAT documentary.
2) We were in Galveston on vacation when he was arrested for the dismemberment/murder. Crazy.
Loved capturing the friedmans
What is Capturing the Friedman’s about?
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 11:35 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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A father and son teach a computer class in the 70s and are accused of being child molesters. The documentary brings up the possibility of the whole situation being made up by the police.
I was just trying to search for it On Demand and nothing. Is it playing on Netflix?
hbo
On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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http://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-durst-may-be-investigated-disappearance-two-teenage-girls-california/
On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 5:39 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
> hbo > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 3:59 PM, Tamara Tattles [email protected]> wrote: > >>
Maybe. I think it is on HBO go. I don’t have Netflix.
This man is fascinating in a weird way. He has the coldest dead black eyes of any human I’ve ever seen. I remember his story from long ago. I hope they can put him away for good. To think there are people like him walking among us is scary. I also want to see Capturing The Friedmans another fascinating case. I have Mr Dursts’ story saved on my dvr. I also saw that movie based on his story starring Ryan Gosling, it was really good in a creepy way.
If they ever make an updated movie the perfect actor for the role of Durst would definitely be Scott Glenn!! I thought of Scott Glenn the very first time I saw Durst’s face.
Wow… Good call! He does look like Scott Glenn!
Just finished last nights ep. We started watching in Sat. I had to rush through it tonight because there have been so many tweets and articles popping up that I didn’t want to read until we finished twitching the final episode.
Crazy stuff. For some weird reason, from the first episode, I was bent on finding holes in the case. I didn’t want him to have done it. I guess I felt so bad for the 7 year old boy. Why DID his father make him go see that?
What is weird is the physical and mannerism similarity between Durst, John Dupont (Foxcatcher) and Tom Capano. They are all heirs who thought they could get away with murder because they lived their lives never being told no and always getting their way.
The crazy thing about most people that meet him is that they like him. The jurors were laughing at his cross examination! The documentarian stated they liked him!!
I can’t wait until TT dedicates another post that waives spoiler alerts and is only dedicated to people that are up to speed. I have so many thoughts about him.
Also, Susan Berman is beyond fascinating. I think it was the NY Times that did a story on her right after she died. Her life story was so bizarre that her closest friends actually thought it was a mob hit.
Just finished Drag Race. Headed to bed. Will check in after my presentation around lunch.
TT, so glad you covered this.
Tee cee. We said the exact thing about the heirs similarities!
I watched the series, (the last 5 mins in the bathroom is when he confessed). It was fascinating!
Riveting filmmaking. After watching the finale last night I was so disturbed that I checked locks on every door and window. I’m seeing his eye twitching and facial ticks in my sleep.
Yes, TT great idea to do this story.
I’ve folliwed this for years also.
Finally with his arrest there will be a chance at justice.
I’m going to try to get Hulu to watch this . I followed this story when he was on trial for chopping up his roommate . I could not believe he was acquitted , just as shocking as the Casey Anthony trial.
I saw this this on HBO. I wish I had “On Demand.” I thought this was a fictitious show that I couldn’t afford to be sucked into. I was wrong! Must check this out.
I have been following this case for a while too! Excited you’re going to be writing on Durst, such a creepy person.
I binge watched it alll today. Was dying to talk to someone about it. I think its incredible he got away with dismembering Morris in Galveston. The matching letter was a bombshell. Hearing him talk to himself almost as of he were two people was eerie. I don’t believe the theory some say he knew he has the Mic on. It was too naturally creepy.
I think he was genuinely having a conversation with himself. He felt like the interviewer was accusing him of lying under oath (which he was) and Bob just wanted to justify, mostly to himself, his testimony.
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 3:45 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Ooh, I was curious what the hype was about The Jinx. Thanks for putting your TT stamp of approval. I’m in!
Was hoping you would comment on this TT. Bob Durst repeated, verbatim, lines from the movie, “All Good Things”.
I thought the letters themselves were the real smoking gun. I doubt they will allow his “confession” into the court room.
And I kinda have to agree with some of you… There was definitely something likable about this fella. He had a humble, easy going manner and a dry sense of humor. But underneath that, I definitely got a sinister vibe. He has a LOT of “tells”. The twitching, blinking, etcetera.
I also wondered if they will go for a mental illness defense? His mumblings, and the conversation in the bathroom… very odd.
I will be following this throughout the trial. I hope you will continue to blog about it, Tamara… I love true crime stuff! HBO on demand is loaded with great docs!
It’s taping now and I’m starting to watch as soon as first episode is done. I become interested when my BFF’s husband raved about it. Gotta binge watch though – I keep lunging for the remote control to turn off news when they hit on the subject!
After watching, I was thinking this seemed like a TT kind of story. Glad to see this was on the blog. This series is amazing so if any of you haven’t seen it, get binge watching! I had seen the movie All Good Things previously, but no fiction can be as good as the non-fiction. Incredible. Praying this guy finally gets his, but as has been pointed out, he has amazing lawyers. These guys know how to spin yarns and pick the dumbest jurors imaginable. If anyone has doubts that a case that’s so strong and about a defendant everyone knows is guilty from the coverage everywhere, Casey Anthony’s case proves jury selection is everything. And those lawyers weren’t that good, that jury was that stupid. Or, shall I say, not intellectually curious to connect dots. These lawyers are bloody brilliant. Hope they get a really good prosecutor because defense will have a bullshit story ready to go just like they did in Morris Black’s trial. Fascinating viewing. Not to be missed.
Did you all hear the latest? Durst is now being investigated for the disappearances of several girls…
What?!
Allegedly, the producers are catching heat about their time line in the documentary. They cancelled a bunch of interviews. I think a good lawyer will be able to argue some resonable doubt into a jurors mind regards the handwriting on the letters and the confession. I wonder what else the police have? I have a feeling they have more.
I’m sorry. That handwriting is the nail in his coffin. He knows it and anyone with a brain knows it.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 6:08 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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You would think that Casey Anthony and Jodi Arias would be on death row but they are not. Hell one would think that he would already be on death row for the murder of his neighbor. These days you practically have to have video of the crime being committed!
I know Angel(?), those are prime examples, and I would add O.J to your list. These crazy verdicts are mind blowing.
His attorneys might argue that someone can easily forge someone else’s handwriting. I saw a murder case where this man did just that. He later said that he and his wife use to practice each others handwriting and he wrote her suicide letter in “her” handwriting. Those lawyers of his are adept had creating reasonable doubt. Somehow I think he’ll walk. He’s so charming, you know he’s going to testify. He had the jury laughing in the Galveston case where he admitted to chopping the guy up. Unreal.
He’s going to be featured tonight on ABC after Shark Tank… Whatever that is 20/20 I think?
On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 3:30 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Thanks, I’m fascinated with that little imp. But I hope they can cover at least some new ground. Basically, everybody is regurgitating everything The Jinx has covered already.
I dvr’d the series. Just have to find time to watch the whole thing.
The ending was jaw-dropping. Imagine being the one who discovered that Durst’s confession was taped in the bathroom! Jesus. I am stunned. I like Durst, too. Bless his murdering Asperger ass.
Oh is he Aspy? Maybe that is why I like him so much…
On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 12:06 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I realize this post is older but I must say something just to get it off my chest! I’ve been following this case for literally three decades. Naturally I want to see every news/court TV report about it, last night was Dateline, tonight Nancy Grace who I have always assumed had her people do the basic fact checking. She is up to the part where Durst is arrested for shoplifting at a Pennsylvania Wegmans…which she calls a convenience store similar to a 7/11…WTF WTF WTF? Wegmans is like a Whole Foods, just not as “healthy”, I was just in one today and let me tell you it’s tough to stick to your list there…it is AmazeBalls! Durst went to Lehigh university, he knows quality and he sure knows he won’t find it at some nasty 7/11. He’s going to shoplift quality (albeit with 32k in his trunk). Shame Nancy Grace, shame! Thank you for listening.
When you follow a case closely and are very familiar with the facts, it can be EXTREMELY annoying to hear it reported incorrectly.
I feel that way a lot when people continue to say false things about the shows I cover because they “read it somewhere.”
On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 9:30 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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oops, one more thing. In the movie All Good Things the characters names are changed but we know who is who. The end is not right but Kirsten Dunst is Kathie, Ryan Gosling is Robert and at one point Kathie asks Robert why he talks to himself so much…exactly what happened when he confessed in The Jinx. Interesting, Jarecki put that in the movie in 2010 so it must have been a known trait of Durst.
I wish they would put that movie back on Demand.
On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 9:42 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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it’s on netflix, which I highly recommend for binge watching all the AUS and UK shows that we rip off!
Are Robert Durst’s lawyers going to get in trouble for getting him to lie on the stand? He claimed his lawyers told him he couldn’t lie but he could omit things or remember things differently. I know lawyers lie all the time but they can’t get caught lying. Or get caught urging their clients to lie. So what gives?
Oh Bob is crazy and he just misunderstood. These are BIG TIME attorneys. Teflon.
On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 2:26 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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So I just watched the Jeanine Pirro interview with Jim Macormack (Kathie Durst’s brother) and he is solid. He has had 30+ years to talk to the press and he can really keep it together and speak intelligently. He managed to bring up the tie between Morris Black, his brother Harry Black, and New York at the end of the interview. How many people knew there was any tie at all between Galveston and NYC??? TT, can we have a discussion room for this case… ya know it’s gonna be huge!
regarding TTs comments about his legal situation, I am eagerly awaiting the pre-trial show! What will be allowed, what will not and why? How will they deal with jury selection? This is going to be to amazing/infuriating to see go down! How many more minutes???
I’m so interested to know more about his current wife. She seemed quite an odd duck. Elegant, intelligent, as Jeanine Pirro said. But something definitely off.
Today I read an interview with the judge from the Galveston case. She said a severed cat’s head had been left on her doorstep and she strongly believed Durst was responsible. Also that he had 7 dogs during his childhood, identical breed, and he named them all Igor – and they all met with unfortunate ends. She believes he is a serial killer and so do I. These are not the only 3 people he’s killed. I think he killed his mother too.
Anyone else catch when the director was asking him about what people should think of him, and he suggested that people would probably think he killed all these people and there were probably more? There you have it.
YES! I thought that was the most damning statement and that was made during the interview itself!
Also is he really still married to someone? Since she lived, does she get all the money? That was quite the gamble.
On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 1:21 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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So he was on a $2m/year allowance from the family, but has been bought out for $65m. Debrah got a large chunk of that. Word on the street is she’s “all about the money”, but she didn’t know what she was really signing up for. She didn’t want him to have a psych evaluation during the Galveston case because she was afraid he’d be declared not mentally competent and her power of attorney would be taken away. I’m not sure when or under what circumstances she was given POA but it seems she’s had it for quite a long time.
I tried to find this on HBO on Demand but no luck. I wonder if they stopped showing it?
I’ve always followed stories about Robert Durst and the Durst family. Living and working in NY I used to work in a Durst building and Bob’s brother Douglas had an issue with me when I accidentally left a message on his voicemail when I was trying to reach his office manager. When the office manager wouldn’t drop the subject of asking me how I got Mr. Durst’s direct phone number I finally blurted out “Excuse me, didn’t Mr. Durst’s brother just get arrested for murder?” She got so mad and told me that wasn’t nice.