Dateline Season 23 Episode 62 Robert Durst: The Lost Years
- June 19, 2015
- 42 min
Robert Durst is a name that is synonymous with controversy and intrigue. The heir to a New York real estate dynasty, Durst has been at the center of many high-profile legal cases. In this episode of Dateline, viewers are taken on a journey through the so-called Lost Years of Robert Durst's life.
The Lost Years refer to the period of time between Durst's alleged murder of his neighbor, Morris Black, in 2001 and his arrest in 2015. During this time, Durst went underground and led a largely secluded existence, living in various locations across the country under a series of false identities.
The episode begins by the host detailing Durst's early life, including his father's suicide and his strained relationship with his siblings. From there, the focus shifts to Durst's life in the years leading up to his alleged murder of Morris Black.
Viewers are given an in-depth look at Durst's relationship with his wife, Kathleen, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1982. While Durst was never charged in connection with Kathleen's disappearance, the case has long been a subject of speculation and remains unsolved to this day.
The episode then jumps forward to the early 2000s, when Durst was living in Galveston, Texas, under the assumed identity of a deaf mute woman named Dorothy Ciner. It was during this time that Durst allegedly murdered his neighbor, Morris Black, and dismembered his body.
The host interviews several people who knew Durst during this time, including his former friend Susan Giordano and his former landlord Robert Schmidt. Both describe Durst as a strange, reclusive individual who seemed to be constantly on edge.
After Durst's arrest in 2015, investigators discovered a cache of items in his New Orleans hotel room, including a gun, $42,000 in cash, and a map to Cuba. The episode explores the significance of these items and what they might say about Durst's whereabouts during his Lost Years.
Throughout the episode, viewers are presented with multiple theories about Durst's motivations and actions during this time. Some believe that he was on the run from the law, while others suggest that he was simply avoiding the media attention that had surrounded him in the wake of Kathleen's disappearance.
Ultimately, the episode leaves many questions unanswered. What was Robert Durst doing during his Lost Years? Where did he go, and who did he meet during that time? And, perhaps most importantly, what does this period of his life say about the man as a whole?
In typical Dateline fashion, this episode presents a complex and fascinating story for viewers to unravel. With its compelling interviews and carefully researched details, Robert Durst: The Lost Years is a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the enigmatic figure at its center.