N.Y. Heir Acquitted in Killing Leaves 1 Lockup for Another

New York real estate heir Robert Durst was released from jail Thursday -- but was not set free.

Durst, acquitted 11 months ago of intentionally killing his elderly neighbor but serving time for related crimes, was taken into custody by federal marshals for transfer to Pennsylvania to face gun charges.

Durst’s lawyer was livid.

“Somebody’s doing this for vindictive reasons,” attorney Dick DeGuerin said, calling the action a “malicious prosecution.”

When Durst was arrested in November 2001 near Bethlehem, Pa., police seized his rental car and found two .38-caliber revolvers and 86 rounds of ammunition.

Richard Manieri, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia, said he expected an indictment returned Thursday would be unsealed today.

The 61-year-old Durst, whose family runs the Durst Organization, a privately held billion-dollar New York real estate company, had been expecting to be released this week after Texas prison officials determined he was eligible for parole on charges related to the death and dismemberment of neighbor Morris Black, 71.

Durst was jailed for nearly three years for jumping bond because he fled after his 2001 arrest -- and was arrested six weeks later in Pennsylvania -- and for evidence-tampering for disposing of the victim’s body parts.