Stockton, California (WNews) – Wealthy New York real estate heir and convicted murderer Robert Durst have died at age 78. He was dogged for decades with suspicion in the disappearance and deaths of those around him before he was convicted last year of killing his best friend and sentenced to life in prison.
Durst died in a state prison hospital facility in Stockton, California, his attorney Chip Lewis said. He said it was from natural causes due to a number of health issues.
In September 2021, Durst was convicted of shooting Susan Berman at point-blank range in 2000 at her Los Angeles home. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on October 14. Two days later, he was hospitalized with COVID-19, his attorney Dick DeGuerin said at the time.
Durst had long been suspected of killing his wife, Kathie, who went missing in 1982 and has been declared legally dead.
Los Angeles prosecutors proved that the motive in Berman’s death was to silence her because she helped Durst cover-up Kathie’s killing — leading to his indictment by a New York grand jury in November for second-degree murder.
District Attorney John Lewin said jurors told him after the verdict in September that they believed Durst murdered Morris Black in Texas and killed his wife.
In the 2015 HBO’s six-part series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Durst discussed the cases and made several damning statements — including a confession.
The show made Durst’s name known and brought renewed scrutiny and suspicion from authorities. He was arrested in Berman’s killing the night before the final episode.
