7 Shocking Post-Mortem Twists In The Robert Durst Saga: The $100M Lawsuit And Vacated Conviction

The notorious case of Robert Durst, the New York real estate scion and convicted murderer, continues to unfold with shocking legal and media developments, even years after his death. As of this current date in December 2025, the aftermath of Durst’s complicated life and alleged crimes is still dominating headlines, fueled by a massive wrongful death lawsuit and the release of a new documentary series.

The story of Durst—a man born into immense wealth who became a suspected serial killer—is a chilling chronicle of privilege, paranoia, and murder. While he died in prison in January 2022 at the age of 78, his passing did not bring closure to the families of his victims. Instead, it opened new legal avenues and media scrutiny, specifically focusing on the fate of his vast estate and the complicity of those around him.

Robert Durst: A Life Defined by Wealth, Murder, and Escape

Robert Alan Durst was born on April 12, 1943, in New York City, the eldest son of Seymour Durst, a prominent real estate investor who ran the Durst Organization. His life was scarred early on by the mysterious death of his mother, Bernice Herstein, who fell or jumped from the roof of the family's Scarsdale home when Robert was seven years old—a trauma he often cited as pivotal. This early tragedy set the stage for a life marked by instability and violence.

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• Full Name: Robert Alan Durst
• Born: April 12, 1943, in New York City, New York
• Died: January 10, 2022 (aged 78), in Stockton, California
• Parents: Seymour Durst (father), Bernice Herstein (mother)
• Siblings: Douglas Durst, Thomas Durst, Wendy Durst
• Wives: Kathleen "Kathie" McCormack (m. 1973, disappeared 1982), Debrah Lee Charatan (m. 2000)
• Net Worth: Estimated to be in the millions, inherited from the Durst Organization family fortune.
• Key Alleged Victims: Kathie Durst (disappeared 1982), Susan Berman (murdered 2000), Morris Black (murdered 2001)
• Conviction: First-degree murder of Susan Berman (convicted 2021, sentenced to life in prison)

The Three Victims: A Trail of Disappearance and Death

Robert Durst’s criminal notoriety is inextricably linked to three separate incidents spanning three decades and three states, each involving a person close to him. These cases form the core of his dark legacy and the ongoing investigations into his life.

Kathie Durst (Disappeared 1982)

Kathleen "Kathie" McCormack, a medical student, was Durst's first wife. She was last seen in South Salem, New York, in February 1982. Durst claimed he last saw her before she left for a trip to New York City. Her disappearance was initially classified as a missing persons case, but it was reopened as a murder investigation years later. Kathie's body has never been found, though she was declared legally dead in 2017 at the request of her family.

A significant, in-depth report on the 40-year investigation into Kathie's disappearance was released by the New York prosecutor's office, providing new context on the cold case.

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Susan Berman (Murdered 2000)

Susan Berman was a writer, a mafia princess, and Durst's long-time confidante and best friend. She was found murdered in her Beverly Hills, California, home in December 2000, shot execution-style. Prosecutors alleged Durst killed Berman because she knew too much about Kathie's disappearance and was preparing to speak to investigators. The infamous "cadaver note," which contained only Berman's address and the word "cadaver," was a key piece of evidence linking Durst to the crime, a connection he inadvertently confirmed in the HBO documentary *The Jinx*.

Morris Black (Murdered 2001)

While living in Galveston, Texas, disguised as a mute woman named "Dorothy Ciner," Durst befriended his neighbor, Morris Black. In 2001, Black was found dismembered and floating in Galveston Bay. Durst was arrested but claimed he killed Black in self-defense during a struggle over a gun. Astonishingly, a Texas jury acquitted Durst of the murder charge in 2003, despite his admission to dismembering and disposing of Black's body.

The Post-Mortem Legal Bombshells and Media Resurgence

Robert Durst's death in 2022 did not end the legal battles or the public's fascination. The most current and compelling aspects of the Durst saga revolve around the financial and legal fallout following his passing.

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1. The $100 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Debrah Charatan

Perhaps the most significant ongoing development is the civil lawsuit filed by Kathie Durst's family—led by her sister, Carol Bamonte—against Robert Durst's estate. The lawsuit seeks $100 million and is specifically aimed at Durst's second wife, Debrah Lee Charatan, a successful New York real estate broker whom Durst married in 2000.

The lawsuit alleges that Charatan, as the executor of Durst's estate and the primary beneficiary, actively helped Durst avoid justice for decades. The family argues that Charatan's complicity in Durst's schemes, including a sham marriage designed to protect his assets, entitles them to the remainder of his wealth. This legal battle, titled *Bamonte v. Charatan*, is a direct attempt to seize the Durst fortune to compensate the family for Kathie's loss, representing one of the only remaining legal avenues for justice after Durst's death.

2. Susan Berman Murder Conviction Vacated on Technicality

In a surprising legal twist, Robert Durst's 2021 conviction for the first-degree murder of Susan Berman was vacated posthumously. This vacation was not a reversal of the jury's finding of guilt but a procedural decision. Under California law, when a defendant dies during the appeals process, the conviction is typically vacated, and the appeal is dismissed. While this does not absolve Durst of the crime in the eyes of the public or the victim's family, it technically erases the conviction from his legal record. Durst had been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole just months before his death.

3. The Jinx: Part Two Reveals New Prison Calls

The original 2015 HBO documentary, *The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst*, ended with Durst's infamous hot mic confession, which led to his arrest and trial. The 2024 sequel, *The Jinx: Part Two*, brought the story to the present day, focusing on the period following his arrest. The new series features never-before-heard prison phone calls between Durst and his legal team, friends, and family, including Charatan.

These new revelations provide a deeper look into Durst's mindset during his trial and his final years, offering fresh interviews with new witnesses and a detailed look at the inner workings of his defense strategy. The documentary reinforces the public perception of Durst's guilt and the complex web of enablers that allowed him to evade accountability for so long.

4. The Unresolved Murder Charge for Kathie Durst

Despite being indicted for Kathie Durst's murder shortly after his sentencing in the Berman case, Robert Durst died before he could face trial in New York for his first wife's death. The New York indictment was a monumental step, but Durst's death meant the criminal case was closed without a conviction, leaving the family with only the civil wrongful death lawsuit as a path to legal justice and financial restitution.

5. The Durst Organization's Continued Distance

Throughout his legal troubles, Robert Durst was estranged from his powerful family and the Durst Organization, which controls a massive New York real estate portfolio. His younger brother, Douglas Durst, who took over the family business, played a role in providing evidence against Robert during the Susan Berman murder trial. The family continues to maintain a strict distance from Robert's criminal legacy, though the ongoing lawsuit against his estate keeps the family name subtly tied to the scandal.

6. The Complicated Role of Debrah Charatan

Debrah Charatan remains a central figure in the post-Durst saga. She stood by Durst through multiple murder trials and is now in control of his estate, which is the target of the $100 million wrongful death claim. Her role as his wife and alleged accomplice in helping him conceal his crimes is a key focus of the ongoing civil litigation, which seeks to prevent her from inheriting the wealth that Kathie Durst’s family believes belongs to them as compensation for her murder.

7. The Enduring True Crime Obsession

The continued release of new content, including *The Jinx: Part Two*, confirms that the fascination with Robert Durst has not waned. His story is seen as the ultimate true-crime narrative, combining vast wealth, celebrity, and a decades-long trail of unsolved mysteries. The case remains a benchmark in true-crime history, illustrating how media scrutiny and a simple hot mic moment can succeed where law enforcement struggled for decades.