Murder Suspect Apparently Wed in January, Police Learn

A New York woman who apparently married murder suspect Robert Durst early this year attempted to withdraw $1.8 million from his bank account in October shortly after his release on bail, police in Galveston, Texas, said Tuesday.

The day before Durst, 58, a member of a wealthy New York family, failed to show up for a court hearing in Galveston, a woman named Debra Lee Charton entered a New York City branch of a New Jersey bank and tried to withdraw $1.8 million from Durst’s account using power-of-attorney documentation, said Galveston Police Lt. Mike Putnal.

The bank balked at such a large withdrawal and sought further documentation, Putnal said. Charton returned the next day--the same day a warrant was issued for Durst’s arrest--and presented a marriage license. But police had begun the process of freezing his assets, and the bank refused to release the money. Police believe Charton wired Durst money to post bail in Galveston, before he skipped out on it.

Police voiced surprise at learning that Durst, suspected of killing his Galveston neighbor, apparently married Charton in January. Described as the owner of a successful real estate business, she has known him for years, Putnal said.

Investigators interviewed her but the information she provided did not lead to his capture.

Durst has been charged in the death of his Galveston resident neighbor Morris Black, 71, and is wanted for questioning by New York state police investigating the disappearance of his wife Kathleen Durst, 29, in 1982. He was questioned by Los Angeles police investigating the slaying of Benedict Canyon writer Susan Berman but has not been charged with any crime in that case.

Arrested in Galveston in early October, Durst disappeared after posting bail. He was arrested Friday in Bath, Pa., on suspicion of shoplifting. He is being held in a Northampton County jail.