Murder Suspect Robert Durst, Subject Of HBO Series 'The Jinx,' Arrested In New Orleans
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Real estate heir Robert Durst, whose story inspired the HBO true-crime series "The Jinx," has been arrested in New Orleans in connection to a cold case murder in L.A., the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department reported.
The 71-year-old has been suspected in three murders in more than one state, but has never been convicted.
"The Jinx" sparked new attention to the unsolved murder of Susan Berman, daughter of a Las Vegas casino owner.
She was friends with Durst's first wife Kathleen, who had vanished in 1982, and served as his publicist in the aftermath of Kathleen's disappearance.
In 2000, Berman was approached by New York authorities to discuss Kathleen's case, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Not soon after, Berman was found dead in her Benedict Canyon home on Christmas Eve. She had been shot execution-style in the back of the head.
Beverly Hills Police Department made the disturbing discovery after receiving an anonymous letter that said there was a cadaver at her house.
In "The Jinx," Berman's stepson shows the camera crew a different letter, this one from Durst to Berman – something he says he just found.
In both letters, the block lettering is the same and the writer misspells Beverly Hills as "Beverley Hills."
Cathy Scott, the author of "Murder in Beverly Hills," chronicling Berman's death, spoke to CBS2/KCAL9.
"I mean my jaw dropped. It was an incredible moment, and I visualized detectives having the same reaction when they saw it," Scott said.
The LAPD said Sunday: "As a result of investigative leads and additional evidence that has come to light in the past year, investigators have identified Robert Durst as the person responsible for Ms. Berman's death."
They reached out to the FBI New Orleans Violent Crimes Task Force (NOVCTF), who worked with the Louisiana State Police (LSP) and the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office to arrest Durst.
He was nabbed Saturday night on a first-degree murder warrant and his attorney told The New York Times he will not fight extradition to Los Angeles.
Following the news of the arrest, HBO told CBS2/KCAL9: "We simply cannot say enough about the brilliant job that Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling did in producing 'The Jinx'. Years in the making, their thorough research and dogged reporting reignited interest in Robert Durst's story with the public and law enforcement."
The billionaire also had a run-in with the law in 2001 while living in Texas. He was arrested after authorities found his neighbor's body parts floating in Galveston Bay. Durst said he killed Morris Black in self defense and later was acquitted of murder.
CBS2's Brittney Hopper reported that Durst is being held without bail and is expected to face a judge Monday.
[Spoiler Alert:]
In the HBO series finale, it was revealed that while using the restroom (and not realizing his mic was still on) Durst said, talking to himself, "I killed them all, of course."