July 1, 2006
Judge in Durst case finds cat carcass
Severed remains left in front of her home in Galveston

GALVESTON - The judge in the 2003 murder trial of New York millionaire Robert Durst found the cleanly severed front legs and head of a gray cat in front of her home Thursday.

Galveston Police Chief Kenneth Mack said late Friday that investigators do not know if the partial cat carcass is related to the Durst case � where the former heir of a real estate magnate was acquitted of murder charges in the death of his Galveston neighbor, but admitted to cutting up the man's body and tossing the parts into Galveston Bay. The man's head was never recovered.

"At this point, we don't have anyone to look at on this," Mack said. "We're just working with what we have, and what we have is the partial remains of a dead cat."

A necropsy conducted Friday by a Houston forensic veterinarian confirmed the legs and head of the cat were severed "by someone with an instrument or instruments," Galveston County State District Judge Susan Criss said Friday.

Criss declined comment on whether she thinks the carcass has any connection with the Durst case. Durst, 63, was acquitted by a jury of murdering Morris Black, 71.

Durst's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said Galveston police on Friday asked him about Durst's whereabouts this week. He said he did not know the nature of the incident that prompted police to inquire about Durst's travels.

DeGuerin said Durst shouldn't be considered a suspect in the cat mutilation.

"I can guarantee you it wasn't Bob Durst," DeGuerin said. "Bob Durst hasn't been in or even near Galveston County this week."

Criss said she noticed something lying near the curb in front of her home as she arrived about 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

"It was in the street, but it was right in front of the sidewalk that leads to my front door," Criss said. "At first I thought it was a dead rat. Then I got out and looked, and it was the head of a cat."

Criss said she realized that the partial cat carcass was not the result of an accident such as a car running over the animal.

"It was very clean," Criss said. "It was placed there. There was no blood, no loose fur, no drag marks. It was clearly laid there."

Mack went to Criss' home and confirmed that "it would appear that it was deliberately cut."

DeGuerin said Durst, upon whom Criss imposed $2 billion in bail to keep him in jail on evidence tampering and bond-jumping charges after his murder acquittal, bears Criss no ill will.

"He doesn't hold anything against Susan Criss," DeGuerin said. "She gave us a fair trial.

"I just think it's somebody's idea of a joke, and it's sick. All Bob wants to do is just be anonymous and be left alone."

Criss said police told her the partial cat carcass will undergo further examination, including tests for the presence of human DNA. Criss also said police are providing her protection as a result of the incident but she declined to say what measures have been taken.

Criss said the discovery alarmed her.

"Draw your conclusion," she said. "A head was left in front of my house by someone who knew how to cut a head off."

Durst is on parole and living in Houston after pleading guilty to the evidence tampering and bond-jumping charges.

Durst was spotted a few weeks ago in the neighborhood where Black's body parts were found.

In January, he was arrested and placed in temporary custody by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole for violating his parole by traveling to Galveston.

Since his January arrest, state parole officials relaxed travel restrictions placed on Durst so his most recent known visit to Galveston was not a parole violation.

Durst is a member of one of the wealthiest families in the nation.

In February, the New York Times reported that Durst severed all ties to the family fortune by taking a $65 million lump-sum payment to end a family court battle.

Durst is the eldest son of the late Seymour Durst, who founded a family real estate empire that now includes 10 skyscrapers in New York City.

BRISTOW, Okla. -- Prosecutors say the same criminal justice system a former Creek County judge abused has held him accountable. A jury convicted 59-year-old Donald Thompson tonight of indecent exposure. Thompson was accused of using a sexual device called a penis pump while presiding over trials. After more than five hours of deliberation, the panel found him guilty on all four counts and recommended a year in prison and a ten-thousand dollar fine on each count. Judge C. Allen McCall ordered Thompson be taken into custody and set bond at $75,000. Thompson will be formally sentenced August 14th.
Thompson's former court reporter, Lisa Thompson, testified that she saw Thompson expose himself at least 15 times. Thompson denied the allegations and called the device a gag gift from a friend. Prosecutor Patricia High says the system worked like she hoped it would. High says a misdemeanor count of misuse of state property that was separated from the trial before opening arguments will be pursued.

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Agreed Rudy, it is creepy. But, not as fearsome or just plain spooky as the severed cat. To answer the question of which is creepiest, I have posted a poll.