Death Joyride Suspect: It Was No 'Weekend At Bernie's'
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - One of the two men accused of driving to bars with the body of their dead friend says it was no "Weekend at Bernie's," referring to a movie with a similar storyline.
Mark Rubinson was arrested in Boulder Wednesday morning for failing to show up in court and talked to CBS4 investigator Rick Sallinger.
Rubinson is charged with abusing Jeffrey Jarret's corpse, as well as identity theft and criminal impersonation. He did not show up for a court appearance last Tuesday morning.
Surveillance video shows Rubinson and Robert Young at Shotgun Willie's in August. Police say that's where they ended their night after driving around with Jarret's corpse and using his credit and debit cards.
According to police Rubinson and Young started the night at Jarret's home, who was reported to be ill. They picked up Jarret, but instead of seeing a doctor they went out for a night on the town, similar to the plot of "Weekend at Bernie's."
"I didn't take a dead man and that's a phrase I'm really frustrated about; is how when the news first broke out it was compared to 'Weekend at Bernie's,' " Rubinson told Sallinger from his jail cell.
Rubinson said his actions were in no way inspired by the movie.
"This case is being inspired by the movie; the media is portraying it as 'Weekend at Bernie's,' " Rubinson said. "I had no intention of reenacting 'Weekend at Bernie's.'"
At Jarret's home Rubinson said they found him not well at all and somehow the plan to take him to a doctor or a hospital went awry.
"I should have called a lot of people and done a lot of things differently, but I didn't. Woulda, coulda, shoulda; I know what I did wrong and I know what I should have done."
After going to a series of bars and restaurants they returned to Jarret's home without ever seeing a doctor.
"If I knew that he was dead, right away, at his house, I would have called the cops and not touched the body. That's why I'm getting the charge of abuse of corpse … they're saying that I knew he was dead and I abused a corpse."
Rubinson insists he didn't use Jarret's credit card or debit card, but admits Young did use it.
