Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
The Jinx Part Two premiered on Max on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 7 p.m. PT. The docuseries revolves around the life of Robert Durst after his accidental confession, which got him arrested in 2015.
Durst, a millionaire and real estate heir, was charged with the first-degree murder of his long-time friend, Susan Berman, nearly 15 years after the crime occurred, CNN reported. He was arrested on March 15, 2015, the night before the finale of The Jinx, a docuseries that had aired on HBO Max. HBO had made a docuseries centered around Durst by then and unexpectedly captured his confession to involvement in multiple murders.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst intended to delve into the mysterious disappearance of Kathleen McCormack, Robert Durst’s first wife. Kathleen disappeared in 1982 and was declared legally dead in 2001, although her body was never found. For weeks after her disappearance, Durst did not report her missing. Then, on December 24, 2000, Susan Berman, a close friend of Durst, was shot dead in her LA house. Per People Magazine, although he remained a prime suspect in the case, authorities did not find enough evidence to charge him back then.
Another murder that Robert Durst was linked to over the years was that of his elderly neighbor, Morris Black. The latter’s dismembered body was found in the Galveston Bay in September 2001. He was acquitted of Morris Black’s murder two years later.
What did Robert Durst reveal in his confession?
Many years after the murders, Robert Durst was being filmed for The Jinx. After giving the last interview, he went to the bathroom and accidentally confessed to the crimes while wearing the microphone that the team gave him. It was an unguarded moment when he didn’t realize he was being recorded.
According to People Magazine, Robert Durst muttered to himself, “What the hell did I do?” He continued, “Killed them all, of course.” The accidental confession led to his subsequent arrest even before the docuseries could air. His involvement in the murders of Kathleen McCormack, Susan Berman, and Morris Black remained under investigation until then, following which he was officially tried in court, The Guardian reported.
Robert Durst was initially only charged with the murder of Susan Berman. Prosecutors argued that Susan knew about his involvement in Kathleen’s disappearance. He allegedly killed her to keep her from revealing the truth about his wife’s disappearance. Moreover, when Susan was shot, police received a mysterious letter that contained the address to her place where they found her dead. According to The New York Times, the handwriting and spelling manners were matched to the way Durst wrote in his previous letters to Susan.
On September 17, 2021, Robert Durst was found guilty of murdering Susan Berman. He was also charged with the second-degree murder of Kathleen McCormack. However, while he awaited trial, Durst died while serving time in Stockton, California, at the age of 78. The New York Times reported that he tested positive for COVID-19. He then suffered a cardiac arrest before he was pronounced dead at the San Joaquin General Hospital.
The Jinx Part Two revolves around Robert Durst‘s arrest and his conviction in Susan Berman’s murder. The docuseries is currently streaming on the platform.
