Producer Charged With Killing Wife Denied Bail

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A reality TV producer charged with killing his wife in Mexico will not be released from a Los Angeles jail while he fights extradition, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman did not demonstrate a special circumstance that would warrant his release on bail, U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal said.

She said that his arguments that he should be released so he could help care for his young children were not unique. Although she was not required to, Segal also ruled that Beresford-Redman posed a flight risk.

He faces charges of the aggravated homicide in the death of his wife, Monica, during a vacation in Cancun in April. Prosecutors say he surrendered his passport and was told by Mexican authorities to notify them if he was leaving, but he instead returned to the United States.

Prosecutors have filed documents stating that hotel guests and workers in Cancun heard and saw the couple arguing and that traces of blood were found in a hotel room that the Beresford-Redmans were sharing with their children.

Beresford-Redman’s attorneys presented under seal evidence that his children had been harmed by their father’s arrest on Nov. 16. The children have been “very traumatically” affected, defense attorney Vicki Podberesky said after the hearing.

“I’m not surprised, but I’m disappointed because this is a unique case,” she said.

The family of Monica Beresford-Redman expressed relief at the judge’s ruling.

“The kids are suffering because they lost the most important person in their lives – their mother,” said her sister Jeane Burgos.

Beresford-Redman, who is also a co-creator of “Pimp My Ride,” has not yet entered a plea, but has said he is innocent of the killing. He was shackled as he was escorted into the courthouse Monday by marshals.

His attorneys contended his arrest is unconstitutional and have asked Segal to dismiss the case. The judge said that motion was premature, but scheduled arguments about a potential dismissal for Dec. 7.

Podberesky argued that prosecutors have only presented hearsay evidence so far.