Robert A. “Bob” Levinson (born March 10, 1948) is an American private detective and former FBI agent. He disappeared in March 2007 when visiting Iran's Kish Island while researching a cigarette-smuggling case. He had previously worked on an inquiry into the murder of American Paul Klebnikov in Moscow.
The Iranian government has stated that it has no information about the case, but officials from the U.S. State Department have cast doubt on the Iranian government's claims.
On September 5, 2007 Iran blocked a US request to allow Swiss diplomats to go to Kish Island to look for the luggage or other traces of Levinson.
Media reported in August 2007 that Christine Levinson, wife of Robert, was planning a trip to Iran with their oldest son. The Department of State stressed that there was a travel warning to that country and they would be doing so at their own risk. Iran announced on September 23, 2007, that she would be allowed to visit the country.
In December 2007, Christine Levinson and her son traveled to Iran to attempt to learn more about Levinson's disappearance. That trip yielded nothing new. In July 2008, Christine said that she wanted to travel to Iran again soon.
Robert Alan "Bobby" Durst (born 1943) is a son of the late New York real estate mogul Seymour Durst, and brother of commercial developer Douglas Durst.
Durst grew up, one of four children, in Scarsdale, New York and attended Scarsdale High School. He completed his undergraduate degree at Lehigh University and attended graduate school at UCLA. Durst reportedly witnessed his mother's apparent suicide at age seven; she either fell or jumped off the roof of the Scarsdale family mansion. According to Reader's Digest, Durst underwent extensive counseling because of his mother's death, and doctors found that his "deep anger" could lead to psychological problems, including schizophrenia. Durst went on to become a real estate developer in his father's business; however, it was his brother Douglas who was later appointed to run the family business. The appointment in the 1990s caused a rift between Robert and his family, and he became estranged. His earlier schizophrenia diagnosis was incorrect.
In 1973, Durst married Kathleen McCormack, who disappeared in 1982. Her case remained unsolved for eighteen years when New York State Police reopened the criminal investigation. On December 24, 2000, Durst's long-time friend, Susan Berman, who was believed to have knowledge of McCormack's disappearance, was found murdered execution-style in her Benedict Canyon California house. Durst was questioned in both cases but not charged.