Robert Durst and the Three Deaths Linked to Him
Robert Durst, a New York real estate heir, was connected to three deaths: the 1982 disappearance of his first wife Kathleen McCormack Durst, the 2000 shooting of neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas, and the 2015 murder of his close friend Susan Berman in Los Angeles. Durst was convicted of murdering Berman in 2021 and died in custody in 2022. Investigations into McCormack and Black reached different conclusions, with no charges filed in the McCormack case and a self-defense acquittal for Black. This verified explainER outlines the facts, timelines, and outcomes of each case while noting ongoing speculation.
Case Overview Table
Below are key details for each death, presented as attribute, verified detail, and source type for quick reference and comparison.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Kathleen McCormack Durst | News reports and court filings |
| Date | March 1982 | News reports and court filings |
| Status | Missing; remains unfound | Law enforcement updates |
| Key Note | Durst claimed she left him; no homicide evidence was presented | Court documents |
| Name | Morris Black | News reports and court filings |
| Date | September 2000 | News reports and court filings |
| Status | Acquitted on self-defense grounds in 2003 | Court verdict |
| Key Note | Shot during an altercation; body dismembered and discarded | Court documents |
| Name | Susan Berman | News reports and court filings |
| Date | December 23, 2015 | News reports and court filings |
| Status | Convicted of murder in 2021; died in custody in 2022 | Court records |
| Key Note | Shot in her Los Angeles home; Durst convicted based on evidence and wiretaps | Court documents |
Kathleen McCormack Durst: The 1982 Disappearance
Kathleen McCormack Durst disappeared in March 1982 after leaving New York for Texas. Robert Durst told people she left him and gave birth to a child elsewhere, yet he later changed his story. No body was ever found, and there was no homicide evidence presented in the original investigation. Because of the lack of evidence and the passage of time, prosecutors in New York declined to file charges, and the case remained officially open but inactive. The disappearance continues to draw public curiosity, but it does not equate to a legal finding of wrongdoing by Robert Durst in relation to Kathleen.
What Investigators Reported
- Durst reported Kathleen missing in 1982 and initially said she left him.
- Later statements from Durst were inconsistent, raising suspicion but not proving homicide.
- No charges were filed, and the case went cold without a definitive conclusion.
Morris Black: The 2000 Galveston Shooting
In September 2000, neighbor Morris Black was shot during an altercation at his Galveston home. Durst was arrested and charged with murder, but in 2003 a Texas jury acquitted him on self-defense grounds. Key issues included whether Black was shot inside his bedroom after confronting Durst and whether Durst’s actions met the legal threshold for self-defense in Texas. The jury accepted Durst’s claim of self-defense, and he was released. A later civil wrongful death judgment against Durst did not equate to a criminal conviction for the killing.
Key Points of the Morris Black Case
- Shooting occurred during a physical confrontation in Black’s bedroom.
- Durst claimed self-defense; Texas jury agreed in 2003.
- Body was dismembered and disposed of, which fueled public speculation.
- A civil wrongful death ruling imposed financial liability but was not a criminal conviction.
Susan Berman: The 2015 Murder and 2021 Conviction
Susan Berman, a longtime friend of Durst, was found dead in her Los Angeles home on December 23, 2015, from a gunshot wound. Investigators linked the killing to Durst based on witness statements, security camera footage placing a person matching his description near the scene, and evidence recovered from his vehicle. In September 2021, Durst was convicted of first-degree murder. He maintained that Berman’s death was a suicide, but the jury rejected that claim. Durst died in prison in January 2022 while serving his sentence.
Evidence and Trial Highlights
- Security camera footage placed a figure matching Durst near Berman’s home around the time of death.
- Ballistic and trace evidence tied the shooting to circumstances implicating Durst.
- Wiretapped conversations and prior statements showed planning and awareness inconsistent with suicide claims.
- Durst’s own behavior and admissions during a recorded conversation contributed to the prosecution’s case.
Comparison Summary
The three incidents differ significantly in legal resolution. The McCormack case remains unresolved officially, the Black case ended in an acquittal on self-defense, and the Berman case resulted in a murder conviction and a prison sentence. Understanding these distinctions is essential when discussing the phrase “Robert Durst killings.”
- Kathleen McCormack Durst: Missing; no charges filed; unresolved.
- Morris Black: Acquitted on self-defense in criminal trial; civil liability later.
- Susan Berman: Convicted of murder in 2021; Durst died in prison in 2022.