Robert Durst dies age 78 four months after being sentenced to life

Robert Durst, the convicted killer, real estate heir, and subject of HBO true crime documentary ‘The Jinx’ – has died from complications of COVID-19 while serving a life sentence for murder at a Los Angeles correctional facility. He was 78 years old. 

 He died just four months after being sentenced to life in prison for the execution-style killing of his longtime friend Susan Berman.

His lawyer Chip Lewis confirmed to the New York Times he died at San Joaquin General Hospital after going into cardiac arrest.

In December, he was seen looking frail and with a breathing tube in a mug shot released by the California Department of Corrections. 

Just months earlier, Durst – who has numerous medical issues, including contracting COVID-19 – was seen in a wheelchair throughout most his trial in California. 

Throughout his trial, his defense attempted to postpone his case due to ongoing health problems, including chest pains, breathing problems, pain while dressing and from having a catheter, and urinary tract infections due to his bladder cancer. 

Despite his slipping health, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the December 2000 murder of his best friend Susan Berman and was then indicted for the murder of his first wife Kathie Durst in 1982. 

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