It was 2015 when HBO premiered the true crime docuseries about Robert Durst. Anyone who watched part 1 of the series could not help but get invested in the story that brought this notorious man into the limelight. His participation in the miniseries back in 2015 led to further legal action against him, which led to the development of the second part of the series. Nine years after the release of the first part of the show, HBO is back with season 2 of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
Disclosing details about the new developments in the Robert Durst case, The Jinx: Part 2 is a six-episode miniseries. The first episode of the show was released on 21 April, followed by new episodes now arriving every Sunday. In India, the series is available to stream on JioCinema. If you are intrigued to know who Robert Durst was and what crime he committed, read on to explore his deep dark secrets with us.
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Getting to know the notorious criminal
Robert Durst was born in 1943 into a wealthy New York City real estate family. He was the son of Seymour Durst and Bernice Herstein. His grandfather, Joseph Durst, founded the Durst Organisation in 1927 and then Seymour transformed the company into a major player in the city’s real estate market. From an early age, his life was marked by disputes and controversies. From his mother’s suicide when he was seven to being declared schizophrenic, Durst remained a loner throughout his school life.
Weak family ties
While Durst’s father expected him to join the family business, he decided to open a small health-food store in Vermont in the early 1970s. He returned to New York a few years later in 1973 with hopes of taking over the Durst Organisation. However, due to his inappropriate conduct, his younger brother, Douglas, was appointed to take over the organisation in 1992. This led to Robert’s estrangement from the rest of his family and him suing them for his share of their fortune. Durst was bought out of the family trust for USD 65 million in 2006.
The murder of Kathleen McCormack Durst
Durst’s first brush with the law came in 1982. His wife, Kathleen McCormack Durst, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Her friend, Gilberte Najamy, was the first person to notice that she was missing. Durst was suspected to be involved in the case as McCormack had gone to the Bronx’s Jacobi Medical Center for facial bruises three weeks before her disappearance after Dusrt had beaten her up badly. He was also dating Prudence Farrow and living in a separate apartment. Durst was, however, never charged in connection with her disappearance until his first-degree conviction in the Berman case.
What was the Berman case about?
Susan Berman was the daughter of David Berman, a major Jewish-American organised crime figure. She was a good friend of Durst, who had even facilitated his public alibi after McCormack’s disappearance. In 2000, Susan was mysteriously murdered in her Los Angeles home. Berman’s biographer, Cathy Scott, claimed that Durst killed her because she knew too much about his wife’s disappearance. He was not charged due to a lack of evidence at the time.
The murder that solved it all
Robert Durst was arrested after his elderly neighbour, Morris Black’s body parts were found floating in Galveston Bay in 2001. He eventually managed to escape the scene on the pretence of bail. In 2003, during his trial, he claimed it was an act of self-defence. During the investigation, psychiatrist Milton Altschuler was hired to talk to Durst. He diagnosed him with Asperger syndrome. He eventually admitted to using a paring knife, two saws, and an axe to dismember Black’s body.
Why The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Part 1 was a bad idea
Andrew Jarecki helmed All Good Things starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst in 2010. The film which was based on Durst and McCormack got Robert’s approval and led to discussions between him and the director. This resulted in Jarecki co-writing, co-producing and directing, and Durst appearing in the 2015 documentary miniseries The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Part 1. During the production of The Jinx, Jarecki and the producers of the show, Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier, came across an audio that acted as potential criminal evidence. Basis that, Durst’s indictment for the first-degree murder of Berman took place. Robert Durst had planned to fly to Cuba after the release of the HBO miniseries but was arrested in New Orleans on the eve of the broadcast of the final episode of The Jinx.
The trial and the aftermath
Robert Durst appeared in court to begin his trial on 2 March 2020. After several delays due to COVID-19, medical emergencies and appeals, the jury convicted Durst of the first-degree murder of Susan Berman on 17 September 2021. This led to an investigation in the McCormack case, for which Durst was officially charged on 22 October 2021, but he died in 2022 before the trial could begin. Additionally, the police also examined the connection between Durst and the disappearances of 18-year-old Lynne Schulze, 16-year-old Karen Mitchell and 18-year-old Kristen Modafferi.
So what is season 2 of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst about?
Part 2 of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst follows the man during the last eight years – between the release of the original series in 2015 and the present. The six episodes will feature new interviews, hidden material, and Durst’s prison calls. Here’s the trailer of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst season 2 –
Other must-watch movies/series by this director: Capturing the Friedmans (2003), All Good Things (2010), Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell (2018)
Run time: Each episode is 43-45 minutes long
Is it available in English: Yes
All Images: Courtesy IMDb
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Where can I watch The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst season 2?
You can watch it on HBO or JioCinema.
– What happens in The Jinx documentary?
The series revolves around the life of Robert Durst, the eldest son of New York City real estate magnate Seymour Durst, who garnered attention for various murders.
– How many episodes is The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Part 2?
It has six episodes being released every Sunday starting from 21 April 2024.
– Is Robert Durst still alive?
He died of cardiac arrest at the San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp, California, on 10 January 2022.
Ananya Swaroop
Digital Writer - Entertainment
Cinema has always fascinated Ananya, so much that she got a degree in media to know more about it. She has worked for magazines like Man's World India and CineBlitz as an entertainment writer. When not writing about films and celebrities, she likes to travel to new places or try new cuisines. Travel and Food are her latest interests and she is looking forward to explore these further.
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