Grim Details Revealed in Death of Monica Beresford-Redman

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.

Grim Details of Monica Beresford-Redman's Death

Another affidavit quotes hotel guests who reported hearing screams and loud bangs coming from the couple's hotel room.

Hotel records show that an electronic key was used nine times between midnight and 7 a.m. when Monica Beresford-Redman was reported missing. Investigators also said that the room the couple stayed in had a view of the sewage tank where her body was found.

According to the complaint and extradition request, a forensic expert found traces of blood on sheets left in the room, as well as on a pillar and the balcony railing.

That testimony could support the Mexican prosecutor's belief that Beresford-Redman asphyxiated his wife before dumping her body into a hotel septic tank. The affidavit states that when Monica's naked and swollen body was found on April 8, 2010, some of her hair had been pulled out and she suffered a wound to her right temple.

Her entire body was tasseled and bruised. "Wounds located on the buttocks were produced by a striking blunt force mechanism when her buttocks struck a hard surface, e.g. a bathtub or hot tub," according to the affidavit.

The documents say Bruce Beresford-Redman had visible cuts and scratches on the back of his neck, behind his ear, on his hands, and on left shin. Bruce has not said how he got the injuries.

Beresford-Redman has maintained his innocence. He has been in federal custody since November on a Mexican arrest warrant. His attorney said his client plans to fight extradition to Mexico.