Challenges in the Life of Robert Durst in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Robert Durst. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Robert Durst was a real estate heir who became infamous for his connection to several deaths. He was a suspect in the 1982 disappearance of his wife Kathleen McCormack, the 2000 murder of Susan Berman, and the 2001 killing of Morris Black, for which he was acquitted. His participation in the documentary 'The Jinx' led to his arrest and subsequent conviction for Berman's murder in 2021, resulting in a life sentence. He was later charged with McCormack's murder but died in 2022 before a trial.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1953: Psychiatric Report on Robert Durst

In 1953, a psychiatrist's report on 10-year-old Robert Durst mentioned "personality decomposition and possibly even schizophrenia."

January 1982: Date of Death Revised

In January 1982, the U.S. Court of Appeals revised the date of Kathleen McCormack's death to match the day she disappeared.

January 31, 1982: Last Sighting of Kathleen McCormack

On the evening of January 31, 1982, Kathleen McCormack was last seen by someone other than Durst at a dinner party in Newtown, Connecticut.

1982: Disappearance of Kathleen McCormack

In 1982, Kathleen McCormack, Robert Durst's first wife, disappeared, leading to years of investigation and speculation.

1992: Douglas Durst Takes Over Durst Organization

In 1992, Douglas Durst was appointed to take over the Durst Organization instead of Robert, leading to Robert's estrangement from his family.

1994: Legal Campaign for Control of Family Trust

From about 1994 to 2006, Robert Durst waged a legal campaign to gain greater control of the family trust and fortune.

1999: Letter Implicates Durst in Berman's Murder

In 1999, a letter written by Robert Durst, containing the same typographical error as the anonymous letter directing police to Susan Berman's body, was uncovered and used as evidence in 2019 implicating him in her murder.

1999: Reopening of Criminal Investigation

In 1999, the New York State Police quietly reopened the criminal investigation into Kathleen McCormack's disappearance.

November 2000: Public Reopening of McCormack Disappearance Investigation

In November 2000, the New York State Police investigation into Kathleen McCormack's disappearance became public.

2000: Murder of Susan Berman

In 2000, Susan Berman, a long-time friend of Robert Durst, was murdered. Durst was later convicted of her murder in 2021.

2001: Killing of Morris Black

In 2001, Robert Durst killed his neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas, leading to a murder trial.

2003: Durst Admits to Lying in Morris Black Trial

During Robert Durst's testimony in his trial, he admitted to lying while under oath in the Morris Black trial in 2003.

2003: Acquittal in Morris Black Murder Case

In 2003, Robert Durst was acquitted of the murder of Morris Black, despite admitting to dismembering his body.

2003: Durst's Trial for the Murder of Morris Black

In 2003, Robert Durst was tried for the murder of Morris Black, where he claimed self-defense and was later acquitted.

December 21, 2004: Durst Pleads Guilty

On December 21, 2004, Robert Durst pleaded guilty to bail jumping and evidence tampering, receiving a five-year sentence.

2012: Restraining Orders Sought Against Durst

In 2012, Robert Durst's family members sought and received restraining orders against him, citing fear for their safety.

2013: Restraining Orders Sought Against Durst

In 2013, Robert Durst's family members sought and received restraining orders against him, citing fear for their safety.

March 14, 2015: Durst Arrested in New Orleans

On March 14, 2015, Robert Durst was arrested by FBI agents at the Canal Street Marriott in New Orleans, registered under the false name "Everette Ward", after being tracked through phone calls. He was observed wandering aimlessly and mumbling to himself, having driven from Houston four days prior.

March 15, 2015: Durst's Personal Papers Seized

On March 15, 2015, New York State Police investigator Joseph Becerra removed sixty file boxes of Robert Durst's personal papers and effects from Susan T. Giordano's home in Campbell Hall, New York. These items had been sent for safekeeping three years prior by Durst's then-wife, Debrah Lee Charatan. Videotaped depositions related to the Black case were also stored there.

March 2015: Hearings on Durst's Statements after Arrest

In December 2019, evidential hearings were held regarding the admissibility of statements Robert Durst made in March 2015 just after his arrest in New Orleans, in an interview with Lewin.

March 16, 2015: Durst Waives Extradition, Faces New Charges

On March 16, 2015, Robert Durst waived extradition and was set to return to California. However, Louisiana State Police filed charges against him for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a firearm with a controlled substance, delaying his return. He could face up to life in prison on those charges.

April 23, 2015: Weapons Charges Dropped Against Durst

On April 23, 2015, Louisiana authorities dropped weapons charges against Robert Durst after negotiations with his defense team.

September 21, 2015: Durst's Federal Weapons Trial Scheduled

On September 21, 2015, Robert Durst's trial on the federal weapons charge was scheduled. At this time, his attorney confirmed rumors Durst was in poor health.

November 16, 2015: Durst Ordered Rearraigned on Weapons Charges

On November 16, 2015, a New Orleans federal judge ordered Robert Durst rearraigned on the weapons charges and scheduled a hearing for December 17. His attorney stated that Durst did not kill Berman and wanted to resolve the other charges to expedite his extradition to Los Angeles.

December 16, 2015: Scheduling Conflicts Delay Durst's Trial

On December 16, 2015, prosecutors and defense attorneys stated in a joint motion that scheduling conflicts ruled out all dates before a January 11 trial date for Robert Durst.

2015: Durst's Medical Issues and Arrest in New Orleans

From 2015 on, Robert Durst had a number of significant medical issues, including surgeries for esophageal cancer, having a shunt installed in his brain for hydrocephalus, and cervical spinal fusion. When arrested in New Orleans in 2015, he was found to be in possession of various drugs.

2015: The Jinx Documentary and Subsequent Charges

In 2015, Robert Durst's participation in the documentary miniseries "The Jinx" led to him being charged with the murder of Susan Berman.

2015: Motion Filed to Exclude Evidence from 2015 Arrests

In May 2019, Robert Durst's attorneys filed a motion claiming evidence from his 2015 arrests were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment and should be excluded.

January 11, 2016: Durst's Weapons Trial Date Rescheduled

On January 11, 2016, Robert Durst's weapons trial was originally scheduled. His attorneys requested a later date saying they would need more time to prepare after rulings on pending motions.

February 3, 2016: Durst Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge, Receives Sentence

On February 3, 2016, Robert Durst's trial was rescheduled, and he changed his plea to guilty to the federal gun charge and received an 85-month prison sentence.

2016: Family Requests Kathleen Declared Legally Dead

In 2016, Kathleen McCormack's family asked to have her declared legally dead.

February 2017: Conditional Hearing Convened in Durst Case

In February 2017, a conditional hearing was convened where Nick Chavin testified that Robert Durst had confessed to murdering Susan Berman.

October 2017: Durst's Preliminary Hearing Postponed

In October 2017, Robert Durst's preliminary hearing was initially scheduled, but was postponed to April 2018 to accommodate his defense team, who suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey.

April 2018: Durst's Preliminary Hearing Rescheduled

In April 2018, Robert Durst's preliminary hearing was rescheduled after being postponed from October 2017.

October 2018: Judge Rules Enough Evidence Exists to Try Durst

In October 2018, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark Windham ruled that enough evidence existed to try Robert Durst for the murder of Susan Berman.

November 8, 2018: Durst to be Arraigned for Berman's Murder

On November 8, 2018, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark Windham ruled that enough evidence existed to try Robert Durst for the murder of Susan Berman and that he would be arraigned.

January 2019: Durst's Trial Date Set

In January 2019, Judge Windham set Robert Durst's trial date as September 3, 2019.

May 2019: Motion Filed to Exclude Evidence in Durst Case

In May 2019, Robert Durst's attorneys filed a motion claiming handwriting samples and other evidence from his 2015 arrests were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment and should be excluded.

August 2019: Durst's Attorneys Argue About Cadaver Note

In August 2019, Robert Durst's attorneys argued, "What the note demonstrates is that the person who mailed it was aware that there was a body at the house, not that the individual murdered Susan Berman".

August 2019: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Dismissed

In August 2019, a wrongful death lawsuit against Durst, filed by Carol Bamonte, was dismissed.

September 3, 2019: Durst's Trial Date Set

On September 3, 2019, Robert Durst's trial date was set for September 3, 2019.

December 2019: Evidential Hearings Held Regarding Durst's Statements

In December 2019, additional evidential hearings were held regarding the admissibility of statements Robert Durst made in March 2015 just after his arrest in New Orleans, in an interview with Lewin.

December 24, 2019: Durst Admits to Writing "Cadaver Note"

In a surprise move on December 24, 2019, Robert Durst's lawyers contradicted his previous statements and filed court documents admitting that Durst wrote the "cadaver note."

March 2, 2020: Durst's Trial Begins, Then Postponed

On March 2, 2020, Robert Durst appeared in court to begin his trial, which was expected to take several months. However, the proceedings were postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: Motion for Mistrial Denied in Durst Case

In June 2020, a motion by the defense for a mistrial because of the delay was denied in the Robert Durst case.

April 12, 2021: Durst's Trial Resumes, Then Postponed Again

In April 2021, Robert Durst's trial was scheduled to resume on April 12, 2021, after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was then postponed again until May 17, 2021.

April 2021: Windham Rules Further Delay Necessary, Offers Bench Trial

In April 2021, Windham ruled that a further delay until April 2021 was necessary due to the pandemic, but he would allow the trial to proceed if Durst agreed to a bench trial, without a jury. Durst declined this option.

May 13, 2021: Durst's Lawyers Request Postponement Due to Bladder Cancer

On May 13, 2021, Robert Durst's lawyers filed a motion saying Durst had developed bladder cancer, and moved that the court postpone the trial indefinitely and to release him on bail to receive medical treatment that was currently being provided. The motion was denied.

May 17, 2021: McCormack Disappearance Reclassified as Murder

On May 17, 2021, during Durst's trial for Berman's murder, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced that McCormack's disappearance had been reclassified as murder.

June 10, 2021: Durst Hospitalized, Trial Adjourned

On June 10, 2021, Robert Durst was hospitalized after being found "down and not in his wheelchair." Windham sent the jury home with plans to resume on June 14. Lewin expressed suspicion that the defendant was faking a medical crisis to force a mistrial.

June 28, 2021: Douglas Durst Testifies Against His Brother

On June 28, 2021, Robert Durst's brother Douglas appeared as a prosecution witness, stating he feared his brother and believed he was capable of murder.

July 29, 2021: Defense Asks for Emergency Halt to Trial

On July 29, 2021, Robert Durst's defense team asked again for an emergency halt to the case based on his poor medical condition, saying he was not able to testify on his own behalf, but was rejected on August 2.

August 5, 2021: Durst Expected to Testify

On August 5, 2021, Robert Durst was expected to testify on his own behalf, but court was adjourned until August 9 due to a positive COVID-19 test of a relative of Durst's legal team.

September 14, 2021: Jury Charged with Reaching Verdict

On September 14, 2021, the jury was charged with reaching a verdict by Judge Windham in Robert Durst's trial.

October 2021: Grand Jury to Explore Charges

In October 2021, Westchester County prosecutors announced they would empanel a grand jury to explore charges against Durst in the McCormack case.

October 16, 2021: Durst Tests Positive for COVID-19

On October 16, 2021, Robert Durst tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on a ventilator. His attorney had mentioned his poor condition at his sentencing two days prior.

October 22, 2021: Durst Charged with McCormack's Murder

On October 22, 2021, Robert Durst was officially charged with the murder of Kathleen McCormack.

2021: Conviction in Susan Berman Murder Case

In 2021, Robert Durst was convicted of the murder of Susan Berman and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

January 2022: McCormack Family Files Wrongful Death Suit

In January 2022, the McCormack family filed a wrongful death suit against Robert Durst's estate, marking the fourth such suit since 2015, seeking to claim Durst's assets.

March 25, 2022: Court appearance order for Durst's heir

On March 25, 2022, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that Debrah Charatan, Durst's second wife, must appear in court to justify why she should be allowed to manage his $100 million estate.

March 2023: Wrongful death case can proceed

In March 2023, a federal court judge ruled that the wrongful death case filed by Kathie Durst's family against Robert Durst's estate could proceed, determining the lawsuit was not untimely due to Durst's death.

April 2023: Conference Scheduled for Wrongful Death Case

In April 2023, a conference was scheduled following the ruling that the wrongful death case filed by Kathie Durst's family against the estate of Robert Durst could proceed.