Sisters in ‘Survivor’ Case — Put the Will To the Test

The sisters of Bruce Beresford-Redman’s murdered wife think her signature was forged on a will – and now they’re asking the court to let a handwriting expert determine if it’s legit.

Long story short, Monica had two wills — one from 2004 which says Monica’s sister gets custody of their two children … and a 2008 will that gives custody to the godfather of one of the kids.

In documents filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Monica’s sisters ask the judge to let them have a handwriting expert analyze Monica’s signatures to determine which draft is the real deal.  According to the papers, they think Monica’s signature on the 2008 will is fake.

Bruce’s parents currently have custody of the kids. Bruce continues to fight extradition to Mexico where he’s been charged with Monica’s murder.

Source: TMZ

Mexican Prosecutor: BBR is Lying About Cell Phone

Someone in Mexico may have racked up a huge bill on Bruce Beresford-Redman’s cell phone, but it wasn’t the prosecutor … according to the prosecutor.

TMZ broke the story … after Mexican authorities seized BBR’s cell phone in April, someone racked up a bill for $3,800 … and that was just for one month.  BBR’s lawyer, Richard Hirsch, claims it’s a clear abuse by authorities.

But now prosecutors claim they don’t have guilty digits, calling the allegations “lies,” adding, “That’s information the attorneys made up.”  Translation — they didn’t make the calls and they’re not going to pay the bill.

Prosecutor Francisco Alor tells TMZ the cell phone allegations won’t affect their move to get Bruce extradited  — but Bruce’s legal team begs to differ.  Hirsch and company claim the police investigation is thoroughly tainted, in an effort to cover up a crime wave at the hotel where Monica Beresford-Redman was murdered.

Source: TMZ

Beresford-Redman Cell Phone Extradition Defense

Sources tell TMZ Bruce Beresford-Redman’s cell phone — the one Mexican authorities confiscated and then abused — will become part of his extradition defense.

TMZ broke the story … Mexican cops seized Beresford-Redman’s cell phone after his murdered wife’s body was found, and ran up an AT&T bill totaling more than $3,800.

Now we’ve learned the bill was for a one-month period.  We’re told roaming calls were made to El Salvador and elsewhere.  Numerous calls were made to various locations in Mexico.

Sources tell us BBR’s lawyer will raise the cell phone abuse issue if Bruce has an extradition hearing.  Here’s the defense argument:  The Mexican police are covering for a crime waive committed at the hotel where Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman was murdered. There were two other suspicious deaths at the hotel and an attempted rape, allegedly by an employee at the Cancun hotel.

The defense has suggested, with tourism plummeting in Mexico, authorities needed a fall guy to prevent further erosion in tourism, and they picked BBR.

If Mexican cops misused evidence in the case — i.e. BBR’s cell phone — it further compromises their integrity.

Source: TMZ

Murdered Wife’s Sis — How Could You Do This?

Bruce Beresford-Redman just got an earful from his murdered wife’s sister in the hallway of court.  Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman’s sister, Jeane Burgos, screamed at him, “How could you do this to my sister?“  Bruce looked away and shook his head.

Carla Burgos then screamed out, “Divine justice is gonna get you!“

Bruce and his father walked away, and Carla screamed, “Run away!  Run away!”

Bruce was in court to try to convince the judge to validate his murdered wife’s 2008 will, which names Bruce as the executor and gives Bruce’s parents an interest in a house Monica owned.  The remainder of the property would go to Bruce.

But here’s the problem: There are no witnesses to validate Monica signed the doc.  Bruce says he signed a day before Monica did, but didn’t witness her John Hancock.

Bruce did say he believes the nanny did witness Monica signing, but claims she doesn’t want to cooperate with him now.  The nanny is saying she knows nothing about Monica signing a 2008 will.

Monica’s sisters are challenging the validity of the 2008 will.

The hearing just ended and the judge has not yet ruled on the validity of the will.

Source: TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer — The Cremation Plot Thickens

Someone appears to be lying about Bruce Beresford-Redman’s alleged intentions to “immediately” cremate the body of his wife Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman — because despite her family’s insistence, the funeral home says it’s not true.

As we previously reported, Monica’s family members had claimed … Bruce contacted the Jardines de Paz funeral home in Cancun and requested to pay for Monica’s “immediate cremation” before she could be transported back to the United States.

But according to a rep for the funeral home, Bruce “had nothing to do” with the handling of Monica’s body … and never made any such request.

Monica’s family had previously released a statement, through an attorney, insinuating that Bruce wanted to simply destroy the “evidence” as quickly as possible.

Monica’s body was eventually transported back to California — no word on future burial plans.

Source: TMZ

Murder Suspect’s Dad Opens Probate Case

David Beresford-Redman has filed legal papers to validate the will of his murdered daughter-in-law … TMZ has learned.  In legal terms, David is opening a probate case.

David — whose son Bruce Beresford-Redman is now charged with the murder of Monica — is named in Monica’s 2008 will as an executor of her estate.

Monica’s sisters have said they will challenge the validity of the will.

Under the will, David and his wife Juanita would inherit Monica’s interest in a house she owns.  The remaining property goes to Bruce.

Source: TMZ

Bruce Beresford-Redman’s Dad — You Got Served

A bunch of cops just showed up to the home of Bruce Beresford-Redman — but they don’t want Bruce … they want to serve his father.

We’re told L.A. County Sheriff’s officers just made the house call to serve Bruce’s father, David Beresford-Redman, with the temporary restraining order that was granted against him yesterday.

As we first reported, the TRO was requested by Norma Paula De Ahlf — the general manager of the restaurant owned by Bruce’s murdered wife — who claims in the legal docs that David wants to kill her because she knows secrets about Bruce’s marriage.

According to the TRO — which was granted by the judge and expires on June 22 — David must stay 100 yards away from Norma.

Source: TMZ

Bruce Beresford-Redman: Please Help Me

TMZ has obtained a mass email sent by Bruce Beresford-Redman to friends, asking them to write a letter that could help keep him out of jail.

In the email, Bruce writes, “…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.”

Bruce goes on:  “I am innocent and intend to fight in court both here and in Mexico.”

Then Bruce makes his pitch:  “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.  Your letters will likely help me secure bail so that I can be home with my children while fighting extradition.”

The email then asks friends to send an email to Bruce’s lawyer, Richard Hirsch.

And Bruce asks that the following info be included in the emails — “Who you are.  What you do.  How you know me.  For how long we’ve known each other … That I am a responsible person who will appear when requested (not jump bail basically). Anything positive about my character.”

TMZ has confirmed the authenticity of Bruce’s email.

Source: TMZ

Restraining Order Against ‘Survivor’ Producer’s Dad

Bruce Beresford-Redman’s father just got slapped with a temporary restraining order — filed by the general manager of the restaurant Bruce’s murdered wife owned … and she believes Bruce’s dad wanted to kill her.

Norma Paula De Ahlf says David Beresford-Redman entered Zabumba restaurant late Saturday night with his right hand inside of his shirt and asked an employee “in a very threatening way, ‘Where is Norma? I want to talk to Norma.”

Norma says, “The way he was looking at me with his hand in his shirt as if he had a weapon … so menacingly, I honestly believed he wanted to kill me.”

Bruce’s lawyer, Richard Hirsch, previously called the allegation “ridiculous.”

But Norma says in legal docs, “I am afraid of him and fear that he will harm me because of all the information I have regarding his son and Monica.”

Norma says, several weeks before the fatal trip to Mexico, Monica told her she was going to withdraw “a lot of money from their joint account.  In the following several days, she withdrew the money, she changed the locks on their house and threw Bruce’s clothes out in trash bags and out into the street.”

Norma claims “Bruce knew that I was aware about the extramarital affair …”

And there’s this … Norma says in her declaration … Monica told her Bruce and David had taken around $25,000 out of Monica and Bruce’s joint account to pay a debt David owed. Norma also says Bruce and David took additional money out of the joint account to buy either stocks or bonds in Bruce’s name only.

In Norma’s declaration, she claims she was suspicious of the trip to Cancun because it was the only trip Bruce planned during his 11 years of marriage to Monica.

A judge in Santa Monica granted the temporary restraining order, which prohibits David from going within 100 yards of Norma. The order expires on June 22.

Source: TMZ

Bruce Beresford-Redman — Wrestled with Reality

Bruce Beresford-Redman was working on a brand new reality show right up until his wife was murdered — a show that revolved around professional wrestling.

TMZ spoke with Stacy Carter — aka Miss Kitty from the WWE — who claims BBR had contacted her roughly two years ago to discuss a reality show based on her life … specifically her transition from wrestling into her new career as a real estate broker.

Carter says she and some of her famous friends — including “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Jimmy Hart and Al Snow — shot a bunch of footage with BBR … and it seemed like they were going to get a deal.

Carter tells us she had spoken with BBR in recent months … but the calls stopped in April … right around the time BBR’s wife was murdered.

Now that BBR has been charged with the crime in Mexico — Carter tells us she’s pretty confident the show is kaput.

Then again … crazier things have happened in Hollywood.

Source: TMZ

There’s a family fight brewing over plans to cremate Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman’s body … TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ Bruce Beresford-Redman never authorized cremation of Monica’s body, contrary to what Monica’s family is now alleging.

We’re told when Bruce was being interviewed by Mexican authorities, they told him he must arrange for transportation of the body to the U.S. — but that was the extent of it. We’re told Bruce was asked to sign a document, but he claims it was about transportation, not cremation.

Sources say Bruce gave his credit card to one of Monica’s sisters to handle the transportation issue… and that was it. But Carla Burgos tells TMZ her family never received a credit card from Bruce — her family took care of everything.

Ultimately, Monica’s body was not cremated and it was returned to L.A.

Source: TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer’s Wife – No Custody for My Sister

TMZ has obtained a copy of a will left by the murdered wife of Bruce Beresford-Redman – it was written just 2 years ago and gives a former “Survivor” crew member “full and complete custody” of the couple’s kids if both Monica and Bruce die.

The will — signed in 2008 — supersedes the prior will of 2004.  The new will says if both Bruce and Monica die, she asks custody be vested in Steve M. Smalley.

The 2004 will gave custody to Carla Ferreira-Burgos, Monica’s sister.  But the 2008 will would invalidate the 2004 version.

A man with the name Steve Smalley is listed as a camera assistant for “Survivor: All-Stars.”  Bruce also worked on the All-Stars show.

Here’s the complication.  One parent cannot will a couple’s children to someone.  But it is something a judge would consider, especially if Bruce is out of the picture for any reason.

And it’s very interesting that Monica specifically left Carla out of the 2008 will.

Source: TMZ

Bruce Beresford-Redman Custody — His Story

We just got a copy of the documents filed in the Bruce Beresford-Redman custody case … and as we first reported, Bruce’s parents have filed to terminate their guardianship which would clear the way for him to regain custody of his children.

Bruce submitted a declaration which says, “While I was in Mexico following Monica’s death, I am now back in the United States … As Camila’s and Alec’s biological parent, it is my desire to immediately resume my  full custodial and parental responsibility … and I am capable and fit to do so.”

Bruce then says he supports his parents move to terminate the guardianship.

In the papers, Bruce cites a therapist who says it would not be in his children’s best interests to attend their mother’s memorial service this coming Sunday  — which is being organized by Monica’s sisters, who are at odds with Bruce.  He says, “It would be healthier for the children to participate in a small, quiet and private memorial for their mother.”

And there’s a big fight because Bruce wants to change the visitation rights of Monica’s sisters — from this Sunday to Saturday.  The reason — Bruce fears the sisters will take the kids to Monica’s memorial on Sunday.

As for the guardianship, Monica’s sisters are saying they don’t want the judge to ramrod a change just yet … they want the judge to wait and see if Bruce is arrested for Monica’s murder.

Source: TMZ

Murder Charge Sought For Beresford-Redman

Prosecutors in the Bruce Beresford-Redman case want the former “Survivor” producer charged with first degree murder … Bruce’s Mexican lawyer tells TMZ.

Attorney Jaime Cancino Leon tells us prosecutors will make their move by end of day Monday.

According to Mexican law, the Attorney General will submit his recommendation to a judge, who will then review the evidence.  If the judge determines there is probable cause, Beresford-Redman will be formally charged with the murder of his wife, Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman, and the judge will issue an arrest warrant.

We’re told it will take the judge several weeks — minimum — to determine if probable cause exists.

Cancino is critical of Mexican officials, saying it’s easier to just charge the former “Survivor” producer than to properly investigate the case.

Cancino adds, “Bruce has never had the chance to defend himself.  They didn’t even give him the chance to participate in the investigation.”

If Beresford-Redman is extradited and then convicted of first degree murder, he would face 4 to 20 years in prison.  There is no death penalty or life sentence in Mexico.

Read more at TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer Seeks to Regain Custody

The lawyer for former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman is at the courthouse in downtown L.A. right now … and sources tell us … Bruce is trying to regain custody of his kids.

We’re told Bruce’s parents have filed legal docs to withdraw their guardianship papers, clearing the way for Bruce to reestablish his parental control over his two kids. In other words, once the guardianship is removed, Bruce is back in his position as the custodial parent.

Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman’s sister, Carla Burgos, is also at the courthouse and we’re told she is ready to object to Bruce regaining custody.

Read more at TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer Kids Told Car Crash Killed Mom

Former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman’s wife was hit by a car and killed — that was the false story that Bruce’s mother allegedly told his kids.

TMZ has obtained legal docs filed by Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman’s sister — Carla Burgos.  Carla is furious that Bruce’s mother lied to the two kids about Monica’s murder.

According to Carla’s declaration, Bruce’s mom, Juanita, told the kids, “Their mother had been hit by a car, fell, and hit her head. “  Carla goes on:  “She further told the children that no one in Mexico knew their mother, so no one could find her until their father finally found her in the hospital, and at the time she was already dead.”

Carla then complains, “I do not understand why Juanita provided so many horrible, not to mention untrue, details about their mother’s death.”

Carla claims Bruce’s parents “main priority is the money they will receive as guardians” and they are “trying to get the children to forget about their mother.”

Read more at TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer — Custody Fight Brewing

The sister of Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman tells TMZ she will fight Bruce Beresford-Redman for custody.

Carla Ferreira-Burgos tells TMZ, “I don’t think someone suspected of killing their mother should be in charge of the kids.”

As we first reported, the former “Survivor” producer is back in L.A. and will seek to regain custody of his two kids, even though he’s still considered a “person of interest” in the murder of his wife.

Source: TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer Wants Custody of Children

TMZ has learned one of Bruce Beresford-Redman’s first moves now that he is back in Los Angeles is to regain custody of his children.

The body of Bruce’s wife, Monica Beresford-Redman, was discovered on April 8 in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun. TMZ broke the story that Beresford-Redman is back in L.A. Now his lawyer, Richard Hirsch, says that since his client has not been accused of a crime, he has a legal right to custody of his children.

Hirsch adds, “That is probably what is going to happen next.”

Beresford-Redman’s parents currently have temporary guardianship of his two children.

Hirsch tells TMZ Beresford-Redman has already retained a family law attorney to assist him.

Source: TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer Back in U.S.

TMZ has learned Bruce Beresford-Redman — the former “Survivor” producer who was not allowed to leave Mexico during the investigation into his wife’s murder — has returned to Los Angeles.

Richard Hirsch, Beresford-Redman’s lawyer, tells TMZ that Mexican officials allowed his client to leave the country. As Hirsch puts it, “He has been informed that he has no legal obligation to remain in Mexico pending an investigation into the tragic death of his wife, Monica.”

Hirsch tells TMZ his client “has returned to Los Angeles County to be with his children and attend to family and personal matters.”

Hirsch adds, “He is devastated by the loss of his wife, best friend, and the mother of his children. He and his family are requesting that their privacy be respected during this time of great grief and sorrow.”

Source: TMZ

Murdered Woman’s Husband Gets TV Show

Apparently you can be a person of interest in your wife’s murder and still get a piece of a show on the CW.

TMZ has learned, the CW network has just picked up a show, partly owned by Bruce Beresford-Redman — the ex-”Survivor” producer whose wife was murdered in Mexico.

Beresford-Redman and his partner, Rick Hurvitz, pitched a show to the CW called “Shedding for the Wedding,” a weight-loss reality show featuring couples who are competing to lose weight for their big day.

We’re told the casting director used to help sell the show was Joy Pierce — the woman with whom Beresford-Redman allegedly had the affair at the time his wife was murdered.

The CW will announce tomorrow that “Shedding for the Wedding” will be part of the 2010-11 season. In addition to Beresford-Redman and Hurvitz, David Broome of 25/7 Productions is an exec producer.

A CW source tells TMZ Hurvitz ended his partnership with Beresford-Redman after the murder, but we’ve learned their company which sold the show — Mindcrime, Inc. — is still an active California corporation.

The CW source also told TMZ Beresford-Redman will remain a profit participant, but only if he can perform his duties as an executive producer — which means he has to come back to the States when the show is being produced.  But, we’re told, Beresford-Redman will not be listed as an executive producer in the credits.

We could not reach Hurvitz or Beresford-Redman for comment.

Source: TMZ

Will Filed in ‘Survivor’ Wife’s Murder

TMZ has obtained the will left by Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman … and she left all her property to her husband, former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman — the man who has been called “a person of interest” in her murder.

Under the will — drafted in 2004 — Monica leaves her jewelry, clothing, furniture, cars, books, real property and everything else to Bruce.

The will names Bruce as the executor, but if he is unable to serve, Monica’s sister, Jeane Burgos-Carrno, is the alternate executor.

The will states if a guardian of her child becomes necessary (at the time they only had one child — they now have 2), Monica’s other sister — Carla Ferreira-Burgos — will become the guardian.

However California Probate Code (sec. 250) says, “A person who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent is not entitled to … any property, interest, or benefit under a will of the decedent.” The code also forbids, “any nomination of the killer as executor, trustee, guardian, or conservator.”

Remember, Bruce has not been arrested or charged in Monica’s killing.

A court has made Bruce’s parents the temporary guardians of the 2 kids.  They are asking for permanent guardianship.

Source: TMZ

The former “Survivor” producer — Bruce Beresford-Redman –  suspected of killing his wife may now lose custody of his kids, because his parents have now made their move to get permanent guardianship … TMZ has learned.

David and Juanita Beresford-Redman – who now have temporary guardianship — filed legal docs in L.A. County Superior Court asking to make them guardians of the two children permanent.  They say Bruce wants it that way.

David and Juanita — who filed papers without a lawyer — say they are retired and in good heath, they’ve had a relationship with Alec and Camilia since birth, and are “able to devote ourselves to the care and nurture of our grandchildren.”

David and Juanita say, “We are both well-educated, each with a masters degree … we will be able to address questions that arise from our grandchildren…”

Those questions will surely include the murder of their mother, Monica, in Mexico.  Bruce was detained but released and ordered to stay in the country pending the outcome of the investigation.

David and Juanita say their son is “assisting the Mexican authorities in matters concerning the murder.”

Source: TMZ