Grim Details Revealed in Death of Monica Beresford-Redman
Authorities say Bruce Beresford-Redman and wife Monica had marital trouble.
Feb. 1, 2011— -- Documents gathered in the investigation into the death of the wife of former TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman reveal that Monica Beresford-Redman may have been punched in the face before she was asphyxiated while the family was on vacation in Cancun, Mexico.
The documents also reveal that authorities believe the couple had marital problems that lasted years, and included mental abuse, as well as Bruce Beresford-Redman's addiction to phone sex with bills totaling $5,000. U.S. prosecutors filed the papers in an effort to send the former "Survivor" producer to Mexico to face charges of aggravated murder in the death of his wife.
The extradition request was filed by the U.S. Justice Department in support of a formal request by Mexican officials.
The documents are riddled with evidence of the couple's marital strife and name the producer's $57,000-a-year assistant, Joy Pierce, as his mistress. During Monica's first pregnancy, for example, the papers reveal Beresford-Redman purchased an expensive watch -- not for his pregnant wife but for Pierce -- a watch Pierce then returned for the cash.
While it's unclear if and when the affair ended, the affidavit reveals that Monica Beresford-Redmond discovered the illicit relationship after finding several e-mails and text messages, and after overhearing a conversation between her husband and Pierce. It was then that Monica cleaned out the couple's bank account and gave Bruce an ultimatum – give her a divorce and divide their assets in half, or she would keep everything she withdrew from the accounts.
According to prosecutors, the family's nanny said she overheard the couple fighting the night before they left for the Mexico vacation, and that she overheard the husband say they needed to buy a life insurance policy for his wife and himself.
According to the documents filed in court, during the marriage the couple purchased life insurance policies for both of them: $5 million for Monica if Bruce dies and $500,000 for each child if Monica dies. Bruce was not the beneficiary of any policy
Family members have said the couple and their two children had taken the holiday in order to work on their marriage. But according to an affidavit, a hotel worker observed Bruce about to physically attack Monica outside a restaurant during an argument. Bruce refrained when he saw there were witnesses.
