Like many, my knowledge of the Durst Family was limited to headlines and fleeting mentions. Beyond the name Robert Durst and a vague awareness of a murder conviction, the intricacies of this wealthy family remained a mystery. When assigned to delve into the story of the Durst family for hudsonfamily.net, a quick conversation revealed the depth of the rabbit hole I was about to enter. “You’re in for a wild ride,” I was told, and that perfectly encapsulates the saga of the Durst family. For those unfamiliar, prepare to embark on this unsettling journey.
The foundation of the Durst family’s empire began with Joseph Durst, an immigrant who arrived in America in 1902 with ambition and foresight. Within two decades, he ascended to Vice President of a bank, a remarkable feat that signaled the burgeoning real estate magnate within. Joseph Durst began strategically acquiring land in New York City, often plots deemed “undesirable” by others. This wasn’t reckless speculation, but a calculated approach. The Durst family patiently waited for the opportune moment to develop these undervalued properties, transforming them into lucrative office buildings and apartment complexes. This practice of acquiring overlooked land and developing it with ingenuity became a hallmark of the Durst Organization, a testament to their patience and resourcefulness in the competitive world of New York real estate.
Upon Joseph Durst’s retirement, the reins of the Durst Organization passed to his son, Seymour Durst. Seymour inherited his father’s business acumen but added a sharper edge to the family’s dealings. His 1995 New York Times obituary aptly described him as “a Manhattan real-estate investor and developer who combined a passion for city history with an equally strong distaste for government involvement in land-use affairs.” This duality hints at a more aggressive approach to business, a characteristic that propelled the Durst family empire to even greater heights. It’s been argued that the Durst Organization, under Seymour’s leadership, became responsible for a significant portion of office building development on both the east and west sides of Midtown Manhattan. While employing similar strategies of land acquisition as his father, Seymour’s methods were perceived by some as more ruthless, yet undeniably effective in shaping the iconic Manhattan skyline. But what about Seymour’s eldest son, Robert Durst?
Born in 1943, Robert Durst’s early life was marked by tragedy. At the age of seven, he witnessed the devastating death of his mother, who fell from the roof of their home. This traumatic event profoundly impacted young Robert, and access to adequate support or even his father’s emotional availability was reportedly limited. While he did receive counseling after physical altercations with his brother, Robert remained a solitary figure throughout his formative years. Despite his seemingly detached demeanor, his father steered him towards the family business, enrolling him in economics. However, Robert’s disinterest in real estate became apparent when he dropped out of his master’s program at UCLA, diverging from the expected path within the Durst family dynasty.
Robert Durst formed close bonds with only a select few, relationships that would prove to be significant and ultimately tragic. Among these were Susan Berman, whom he met at UCLA, and Kathleen McCormack. Kathleen’s whirlwind romance with Robert led her to abandon her life and move to Vermont after a mere two dates to open a health food store with him. This venture was short-lived, and in 1973, Robert was compelled by his father to return to New York City, drawing him back into the orbit of the Durst family business, albeit reluctantly.
It was in New York that Robert’s darker side began to surface in his relationship with Kathleen. Public arguments and controlling behavior escalated, culminating in him forcing her to have an abortion. Years of abuse led Kathleen to seek legal counsel for divorce. Then, in 1982, Kathleen McCormack vanished. Before her disappearance, she confided in friends and family, uttering the chilling premonition, “If anything happens to me, don’t let Bob get away with it.”
Suspicion immediately fell upon Robert Durst in Kathleen McCormack’s disappearance. However, in the absence of a body or concrete physical evidence, the case languished for sixteen years, a cold case shrouded in unanswered questions. Then, in 2000, a potential break emerged when police received a tip suggesting Susan Berman might possess crucial information related to Kathleen’s disappearance. But when investigators attempted to question Susan Berman, they discovered she too was dead. The coincidences were mounting, and Robert Durst became the prime suspect in two mysterious deaths. Yet, again, lacking definitive physical evidence linking him to Susan Berman’s murder, Robert Durst remained a free man. He subsequently relocated to Texas, seeking to escape the mounting scrutiny, but controversy and violence followed him.
In Texas, Robert Durst adopted the guise of a mute woman and rented an apartment across the hall from Morris Black. An altercation ensued between the two men, resulting in Morris Black’s death. Black’s body was dismembered and disposed of in Galveston Bay. This time, the evidence was substantial enough to warrant charges against Robert Durst. During the murder trial, Robert Durst offered a shocking defense: he claimed the shooting was accidental, but fearing disbelief, he chose to dismember the body, discard it in the bay, and evade authorities for 45 days. Incredibly, the jury acquitted him, accepting his implausible narrative.
The turning point in the Durst saga came with the documentary series “The Jinx.” In a moment of unintended self-incrimination, Robert Durst seemingly confessed to the murders while still wearing a live microphone, unaware he was being recorded during a bathroom break. This accidental confession became pivotal. He was ultimately tried for the murders of Susan Berman and Kathleen McCormack, found guilty, and sentenced to life in prison. Robert Durst died in prison shortly after, succumbing to complications from COVID-19, bringing a definitive, albeit grim, end to his life and the long shadow he cast over the Durst family name.
What lessons can be gleaned from the Durst family narrative? Is it a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of wealth and power, transforming offspring into “monsters”? While Robert’s actions were monstrous, his siblings appear to have navigated life without such criminal deviations. Does childhood trauma inevitably lead to a path of violence? Countless individuals endure trauma without resorting to murder. Or does the Durst case expose profound flaws within the criminal justice system, allowing a man seemingly responsible for multiple deaths to evade justice for decades, until a chance confession captured on a documentary?
Perhaps the Durst family saga underscores the unpredictable nature of life and the enduring impact of generational trauma, manifesting in unforeseen and devastating ways. The ambitious aspirations of an immigrant family, building a real estate empire, somehow intertwined with the twisted reality of violence and murder. There may not be a singular, easily digestible lesson, but rather a complex web of factors to consider and learn from, for ourselves and future generations. Or perhaps, on a simpler note, it’s a reminder to pay closer attention to the lives and actions of the wealthy elite. The story of the Durst family is certainly a wild ride, leaving us to ponder these unsettling questions long after the journey concludes.
