Days after Mexico police issue an arrest warrant for Bruce Beresford-Redman for murder of his wife in Cancun, he begs friends via email-to help him stay out of Mexico after the Survivor TV producer managed to enter US without a passport days ago.
Bruce Beresford-Redman's asking for last-ditch efforts, from friends, to fight his extradition to Mexico in facing homicide charges pertaining to his murdered wife who was killed at a Cancun resort. A spokesman for Bruce Beresford-Redman's attorney confirmed that a mass email was, in fact, from Bruce.
That Beresford-Redman authored email reads: "Hi, Sorry for the mass email, but I need to ask for some help. As I am sure most of you are aware, my wife Monica was killed on our recent trip to Mexico, and now unfortunately, the Mexican authorities have decided to charge me with the crime [murder]. I [ Bruce Beresford-Redman] am innocent and intend to fight in court both here [in the United States] and in Mexico. As I am likely to be detained in the U.S. while fighting extradition, I am asking you if you are willing to write a letter on my behalf. You letters will likely help me secure bail, so that I can be home with my children while fighting extradition [to Mexico]."
The email then asks the friends to reply to Bruce's U.S. lawyer, Richard Hirsch.
While Bruce Beresford-Redman is fighting to stay out of Mexico, Monica Beresford-Redman's sister, Jeane Burgos, has traveled to Mexico, helping with the extradition process that will put Bruce Beresford-Redman back there. Mexican officials said her sister, Jeane Burgos, brought legal documentation to the Attorney General's Office in Quintana Roo in Mexico, to prove that Bruce Beresford-Redman is back in the United States. Mexican authorities said that with this legal confirmation that Bruce is no longer in Mexico, they can move one step closer to extraditing him back to their country.
A judge in Cancun issued an "order of arrest" against Beresford-Redman for the Mexican crime of "Qualified Homicide" according to Francisco Antonio Alor Quezada, attorney general for the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
Through his attorney, Bruce Beresford-Redman issued this statement, claiming his innocence in the murder of his wife: "Monica was the axis around which our whole family revolved. From her sisters and parents to my parents and of course to our children and me, she was everything to us." I am devastated at her loss; and I am incensed at the suggestion that I could have had anything to do with her death. I am innocent. My children have had one parent taken from them by a senseless act of violence. I implore the Mexican authorities not to take their [the Beresford-Redman children] remaining parent by a miscarriage of justice and to do what is right not just what is expedient."
Mexican police officials are expected to begin a diplomatic process with U.S. police and authorities, in order to bring the former “Survivor” TV show producer back to Mexico, and to help locate Beresford-Redman should he choose to disappear. KTLA spotted the "Survivor" TV Producer playing with his children Monday morning, in the backyard of his upscale Rancho Palos Verdes (CA) home. Beresford-Redman was somehow allowed to return to Los Angeles, California, in the United States more than one week ago, despite being ordered to stay in Mexico until his wife's murder investigation is complete by Mexican authorities.
Beresford-Redman’s passport was confiscated following the murder of his wife, Monica, and he was ordered not to leave Mexico after his wife's body was found in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort on April 8, 2010. Mexican police authorities said his wife, Monica's, body showed signs of asphyxiation and evidence of a heavy blow to the head that had been suffered in her murder.
The Beresford-Redman couple was reportedly vacationing together in Mexico, in an attempt to repair their marriage after Bruce Beresford-Redman's alleged extra-marital affair, when Monica was killed. Beresford-Redman's lawyer, Richard Hirsch, has said they [Beresford-Redman and legal representation] plan to fight the extradition process to Mexico. He also said his client, Bruce, left the country of Mexico and returned to the United States, supposedly because he was under no legal restraint to stay.
Monica's family has expressed relief that the extradition process for Beresford-Redman has begun, for him to be extradited back to Mexico in facing the Homicide charges. "The Burgos Family is, of course, relieved to learn that a warrant has been issued for Bruce Beresford-Redman's arrest. And while we recognize that the extradition process [to Mexico] may take some time, we are elated that the [extradition] process has finally begun. It has taken nearly two months, but we are hopeful that Monica will finally get the justice she deserves [in her murder]," the family said in a statement.
Monica’s family continued statement conveyed that they do not believe Bruce Beresford-Redman’s declaration of innocence in his wife’s murder. "As for Bruce, we do not buy his newly found contrition. It has been 56 days since Monica was brutally murdered. At no point during that time, did he or his family reach out to the Burgos family to express their sympathy or share in their grieving. Bruce never made any effort to locate Monica nor did he assist the Mexican authorities in their investigation. The only thing that Bruce Beresford-Redman has done since the day Monica went missing was request and pay for her immediate cremation. If in fact he is innocent then he should have no problem waiving extradition proceedings and returning to Mexico to defend himself. However, if he is guilty, then shame on him for exploiting his children, he should have considered them before committing this senseless and brutal act of domestic violence upon their mother."
Bruce Beresford-Redman’s attorney, Hirsch, has been encouraging Mexican police authorities to consider other possibilities in Monica Beresford-Redman's murder; Hirsch has cited other crimes that have occurred at the same location of the Moon Palace Hotel, such as an unrelated rape that happened days prior to Monica Beresford-Redman's murder. No other suspect has been named in the murder investigation of Monica, other than husband Bruce Beresford-Redman.
ABC News reports that Bruce Beresford-Redman had completed purchase of two life insurance policies-for each of his family members-only days prior to the couple’s departure for their trip to Cancun. Beresford-Redman ‘s attorney, Hirsch, insists that the couple's children were listed as beneficiaries on the life insurance policies, not Monica’s husband Bruce.
A private memorial service was held Sunday afternoon for Monica Beresford-Redman at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, California. Bruce and Monica Beresford-Redman's two young children, 5-year-old Camila and 3-year-old Alec, did not attend the memorial service for their murdered mother. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff had granted a request, made by Bruce Beresford-Redman's father, that the children be kept away from the memorial service because of the emotional stress and media attention.
Judge Beckloff additionally ruled that Bruce Beresford-Redman's parents, the childrens’ grandparents David and Juanita Beresford-Redman, will retain guardianship of the children. They were given temporary custody of the children in April, following the murder of their mother, and that guardianship was extended pending a forthcoming hearing to occur on June 17. Both Bruce Beresford-Redman and, separately, Carla and Jeanne Burgos (sisters of Monica Beresford-Redman) are trying to get custody of the children.
Bruce was seeking to resume his parental rights. "As Camila's and Alec's biological parent, it is my desire to immediately resume full custodial and parental responsibility of Camila and Alec, and I am capable and fit to do so," the “Survivor” TV producer said in an ex-parte legal motion filed.
But Carla and Jeanne Burgos fear Bruce will take the children out of California state--if Bruce were to receive full custody of the Beresford-Redman kids.
The victim's family expressed outrage at the “Survivor” TV producer's ability to actually enter the Untied States country, under the circumstances of his order by Mexican police authorities to stay in Mexico--citing Beresford-Redman's lack of passport in even returning to the United States. The family of Monica Beresford-Redman released this statement through their attorney: "The Burgos family is in shock over Bruce Beresford-Redman's sudden return to the United States. It is our understanding that he was to remain in Mexico until the investigation into Monica's death was concluded.
As Mr. Beresford-Redman is certainly aware, the investigation remains ongoing with test results to be released early this week. It is further our understanding that his [Bruce Beresford-Redman’s] passport was not returned to him by Mexican authorities. Thus, we question how it was possible that he was permitted to enter into this [United States] country without a passport and it leads us to conclude that he could just as easily leave this country undetected. We plead with Mr. Beresford-Redman that, if he intends to run [from police authorities] again, that he not involve the [Beresford] children."