Real estate heir Robert Durst listens to opening statements in his murder trial in March 2020.
In pictures: Robert Durst
Real estate heir Robert Durst listens to opening statements in his murder trial in March 2020.
Etienne Laurent/Pool/Getty Images

Updated 4:51 PM EST, Mon January 10, 2022

Robert Durst, an eccentric millionaire convicted last year of murder, has died in a California prison hospital, according to his longtime attorney Dick DeGuerin. He was 78.

Durst was the the focus of "The Jinx," an HBO documentary series that explored his wife's 1982 disappearance and investigators' suspicions that writer Susan Berman, Durst's longtime friend who was shot dead in 2000, was killed because she knew what happened to Durst's wife.

Durst maintained he didn't kill Berman or have anything to do with the disappearance of his wife, Kathie McCormack Durst. But in September, a Los Angeles jury convicted him of murdering Berman.

McCormack Durst was declared legally dead in 2017. Her body has not been found, and no one has been charged in the case.

Durst sits next to defense attorney Dick DeGuerin in October 2021 as he is sentenced to life without parole for the killing of Susan Berman.
Durst sits next to defense attorney Dick DeGuerin in October 2021 as he is sentenced to life without parole for the killing of Susan Berman.
Myung J. Chun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Durst testifies in his murder trial in August 2021.
Durst testifies in his murder trial in August 2021.
Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times/Pool/AP
Attorney Dick DeGuerin waves his hat to end a media briefing outside a Los Angeles courthouse in December 2016.
Attorney Dick DeGuerin waves his hat to end a media briefing outside a Los Angeles courthouse in December 2016.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Durst arrives for his arraignment in November 2016.
Durst arrives for his arraignment in November 2016.
Kevork Djansezian/Reuters
Durst was accused of killing Berman inside this Beverly Hills home in 2000.
Durst was accused of killing Berman inside this Beverly Hills home in 2000.
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Berman and Durst are pictured together in the 1990s. For years, speculation swirled about who could be responsible for Berman's death.
Berman and Durst are pictured together in the 1990s. For years, speculation swirled about who could be responsible for Berman's death.
Sareb Kaufman/Courtesy of HBO
Durst is transported in New Orleans in March 2015. He was arrested in New Orleans the night before the final episode of the "The Jinx" aired on HBO.
Durst is transported in New Orleans in March 2015. He was arrested in New Orleans the night before the final episode of the "The Jinx" aired on HBO.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Durst is seen in December 2014 after appearing in a New York courtroom. He had been charged with trespassing on property owned by his estranged family. He was acquitted.
Durst is seen in December 2014 after appearing in a New York courtroom. He had been charged with trespassing on property owned by his estranged family. He was acquitted.
Mike Segar/Reuters
The Berman case wasn't the first time that Durst had been charged with murder. In a 2003 trial, Durst admitted that he had killed Morris Black, a neighbor in Galveston, Texas, and chopped up the body. He was acquitted after his attorneys argued he'd acted in self-defense, though he later served serve nine months in prison on felony weapons charges stemming from that case.
The Berman case wasn't the first time that Durst had been charged with murder. In a 2003 trial, Durst admitted that he had killed Morris Black, a neighbor in Galveston, Texas, and chopped up the body. He was acquitted after his attorneys argued he'd acted in self-defense, though he later served serve nine months in prison on felony weapons charges stemming from that case.
Pat Sullivan/AP
Durst is featured on the front page of the New York Daily News on November 12, 2003.
Durst is featured on the front page of the New York Daily News on November 12, 2003.
New York Daily News/Getty Images
Private detectives comb a portion of Galveston Bay in search of Morris Black's remains in February 2002.
Private detectives comb a portion of Galveston Bay in search of Morris Black's remains in February 2002.
John Roca/NY Daily News/Getty Images
Durst is escorted from a courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 2002.
Durst is escorted from a courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 2002.
John Roca/NY Daily News/Getty Images
Durst is seen in this November 2001 booking photo after he jumped bail and was arrested in Pennsylvania. Durst was arrested for shoplifting a sandwich even though he had hundreds of dollars in his pocket.
Durst is seen in this November 2001 booking photo after he jumped bail and was arrested in Pennsylvania. Durst was arrested for shoplifting a sandwich even though he had hundreds of dollars in his pocket.
New York Daily News/Getty Images
Durst is escorted to a Northampton County courtroom before a hearing in December 2001.
Durst is escorted to a Northampton County courtroom before a hearing in December 2001.
Robert Fish/AP
Durst, seen here in February 1991, was heir to a fortune from his family's New York real estate investments. The Durst Organization was founded by his grandfather. After a civil lawsuit in 2006, Robert Durst cut ties with his family and 10 Manhattan skyscrapers in return for a $65 million settlement, The New York Times reported.
Durst, seen here in February 1991, was heir to a fortune from his family's New York real estate investments. The Durst Organization was founded by his grandfather. After a civil lawsuit in 2006, Robert Durst cut ties with his family and 10 Manhattan skyscrapers in return for a $65 million settlement, The New York Times reported.
Bill Turnbull/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
The front page of the New York Daily News on February 9, 1982, features the disappearance of Durst's wife, Kathie. No one has been charged in her disappearance. Durst said the last time he saw her was when he dropped her off at a train station in Westchester, New York, so she could head back to medical school in the city.
The front page of the New York Daily News on February 9, 1982, features the disappearance of Durst's wife, Kathie. No one has been charged in her disappearance. Durst said the last time he saw her was when he dropped her off at a train station in Westchester, New York, so she could head back to medical school in the city.
New York Daily News/Getty Images
An undated photo shows Kathie and Robert Durst.
An undated photo shows Kathie and Robert Durst.
Courtesy of HBO