Mexican prosecutor dismisses remarks by lawyer on Cancun hotel where TV producer’s wife died

Prosecutor: TV producer’s lawyer smearing Cancun

CANCUN, Mexico — A Mexican prosecutor on Thursday dismissed suggestions the slaying of a U.S. television producer’s wife at a Cancun resort could be related to two other suspicious deaths and an attempted rape at the same hotel.

The suggests made Wednesday by Bruce Beresford-Redman’s lawyer are an attempt to muddle the investigation, said Francisco Alor, the attorney general for Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located.

Beresford-Redman is the main suspect in the death of his wife, Monica, whose body was found April 8 in a sewer at the Moon Palace Hotel. There were signs she had been beaten and asphyxiated.

“I don’t know if the lawyers are hired to defend Mr. Bruce or are hired to smear the image of a resort,” Alor said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Beresford-Redman, who has not been charged and denies involvement in his wife’s death, returned to Los Angeles last weekend, even though Mexican authorities confiscated his passport. His lawyers say he had no legal obligation to remain in Mexico.

It’s unclear how he returned Los Angeles, although U.S. citizens driving into the United States from Mexico can show other documents besides a passport.

His lawyer, Richard Hirsch, told the AP that Mexican investigators should look into previous violent events at the hotel rather than focusing exclusively on Beresford-Redman.

He said his office learned that on June 16, 2009, a Scottish woman, Julia Howard, 77, who was a resident of the hotel, disappeared and was found beaten to death.

In 2007, records show a Canadian, Jeff Toews, checked into the Moon Palace and was later found dead, having suffered a fall from his third floor balcony, Hirsch said.

The attorney also said he was contacted by a Baltimore dentist who said that on April 30, his daughter was the victim of an attempted rape by an employee of the hotel who management said was later fired.

Alor refused to comment on those incidents.

“I am not going to respond to absolutely any of these subjective comments from these lawyers … so that they can muddy the investigation,” he said.

Alor called on Beresford-Redman to return to Mexico, where he has been summoned for additional questioning.

“I’d like to take the opportunity, since these lawyers are making their involvement in Bruce’s case known, to ask them to bring Bruce here, if they would be so kind, since he has been summoned,” Alor said.

Representatives of the Moon Palace Hotel declined to comment on Hirsch’s remarks, saying Mexican authorities have asked that nobody discuss the case.

Beresford-Redman reported his wife missing two days before her body was found, telling police she went shopping and never returned. Investigators say witnesses saw the couple arguing hours after the producer claims she disappeared.

Alor said investigators are getting ready to turn evidence over to a judge, who will decide whether any charges should be filed.