Linda Deutsch, AP trial writer present at historic trials, dies at 80

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Linda Deutsch, a special correspondent for The Associated Press who covered some of the most notable criminal and civil trials in the United States over nearly 50 years, passed away on Sunday at the age of 80.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, Deutsch initially responded well to treatment. However, the cancer reemerged this summer. She died at her Los Angeles home, in the presence of family and friends, according to nurse Narek Petrosian of Olympia Hospice Care.

Among the most famous trial reporters in America when she retired in 2015, Deutsch began her career covering the 1969 trial and conviction of Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. From there, she went on to cover a roster of high-profile defendants, including Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Patty Hearst, Phil Spector, the Menendez Brothers, Richard Ramirez, Ted Kaczynski, and the police officers involved in the Rodney King beating case.

In 1995, Deutsch was in a Los Angeles courtroom for the conclusion of the “Trial of the Century,” in which NFL Hall of Famer Simpson was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife and her friend. Thirteen years later, she witnessed Simpson’s conviction on kidnapping and robbery charges in Las Vegas.

“When a big trial loomed, AP’s assignment editors didn’t have to ask who should get the assignment. The question was, ‘Is Linda available?’” said Louis D. Boccardi, AP’s former executive editor and president. “She mastered the art of celebrity trial coverage and, in the process, became something of a media celebrity herself.”

Throughout her career, Deutsch covered each appeal and parole hearing of convicted Manson Family members. She also documented numerous historic moments, such as the 1976 conviction of Patty Hearst, the 2005 acquittal of Michael Jackson on child molestation charges, and the 2009 murder conviction of music producer Phil Spector.

“Linda was a fearless reporter who loved being on a big story — and she covered some of the biggest,” said Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor and senior vice president. “She was a trailblazer whose command of her beat inspired many journalists at the AP and within the industry.”

While she is best known for covering celebrity cases, Deutsch’s work also touched on trials related to fraud, conspiracy, environmental disasters, and immigration. Her impactful reporting eventually earned her the prestigious title of special correspondent at AP.

Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau, who represented Michael Jackson, described Deutsch as “the epitome of ethics and professionalism in journalism,” adding, “I can’t think of anybody who rises to her level.”

At the young age of 25, Deutsch covered Sirhan’s conviction and soon after took on the coverage of Charles Manson, who had transformed himself into a hippie guru leading a group of disaffected youth. The Manson Family horrified Los Angeles in 1969 by murdering seven people, including actress Sharon Tate, in a series of brutal home invasions.

When Manson and his female followers went on trial in 1970, the months-long proceedings turned into a surreal spectacle. Initially, AP sent a more experienced reporter from New York to oversee the trial coverage, but after witnessing weeks of bizarre courtroom antics, the assignment was handed to Deutsch.

Reflecting on the experience, Deutsch once said, “I thought, ‘Oh, this is really something. I didn’t know trials could be like this.’” She formed lasting bonds with fellow journalists who covered the case daily for nine months.

The trial of O.J. Simpson would eclipse even the Manson trial in terms of public interest. When Simpson was charged with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, news organizations from around the globe flocked to cover the proceedings. Deutsch, a familiar face in the courthouse, became the only reporter allowed to cover jury selection and appeared frequently on television to explain courtroom developments to a worldwide audience. After his acquittal, Simpson called Deutsch to thank her for what he saw as fair coverage, leading to several exclusive interviews.

Not all of Deutsch’s assignments involved celebrities. She spent five months in Alaska covering the trial of Joseph Hazelwood, captain of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker, which caused an environmental disaster by spilling millions of gallons of crude oil. She also covered the 1973 espionage trial of Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, thus impacting public opinion on the Vietnam War.

Deutsch also reported on the trial of Richard Ramirez, the “Night Stalker” serial killer, and the 1992 trial of four Los Angeles police officers acquitted of beating Rodney King, a verdict that sparked widespread riots.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Deutsch’s interest in journalism began early. By age 12, she founded an international Elvis Presley fan club newsletter. Her career took off during her college years at New Jersey’s Monmouth College. Relocating to Southern California after graduation, she joined AP in 1967, initially aspiring to be an entertainment reporter.

In 1975, after the end of the Vietnam War, she went to Guam to interview evacuees and help get locally employed AP staffers safely to the United States. However, her true calling was the drama of the courtroom. “It’s an extremely powerful theater that tells us about ourselves and the people on trial,” she said in 2007. “And I think it’s ever fascinating.”

Source: Associated Press