Linda Deutsch, Famed AP Trial Writer, Dies at 80

Linda Deutsch, a special correspondent for The Associated Press renowned for her coverage of many high-profile criminal and civil trials over nearly five decades, passed away on Sunday at the age of 80. She was surrounded by family and friends when she died at her Los Angeles home, as shared by Narek Petrosian of Olympia Hospice Care.

Deutsch’s journalistic journey began with the 1969 trial of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin, Sirhan Sirhan. In her career, she covered a host of infamous criminals, including Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Patty Hearst, Phil Spector, the Menendez Brothers, “Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez, and “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski. She was also present in courtrooms for the trials of the police officers involved in Rodney King’s beating and documented the cases of many others.

One of the landmark moments in Deutsch’s career was the 1995 trial of O.J. Simpson. She witnessed the NFL Hall of Famer being acquitted of murder charges. Years later, she was in Las Vegas to see Simpson convicted of kidnapping and robbery. Her reputation for fair and in-depth trial coverage led former AP executive editor Louis D. Boccardi to note, “When a big trial loomed, AP’s assignment editors didn’t have to ask who should get the assignment. No, the instant question was, ‘Is Linda available?’”

Deutsch covered every appeal and parole hearing of convicted Manson Family members. Her other notable moments in court reporting include Hearst’s 1976 conviction for bank robbery, Michael Jackson’s 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges, and Phil Spector’s 2009 murder conviction. AP’s executive editor Julie Pace described Deutsch as “a fearless reporter who loved being on a big story — and she indeed covered some of the biggest.”

In 2015, renowned defense attorney Thomas Mesereau called Deutsch “the epitome of ethics and professionalism in journalism” upon her retirement. Despite her striking resume, Deutsch began her significant journalism career at the young age of 25 with Sirhan’s conviction. She then turned her attention to the notorious trials of Charles Manson and his followers, who terrorized Los Angeles in the summer of 1969.

Manson’s trial in 1970 was marked by surreal and dramatic events, which Deutsch vividly recalled in interviews over the years. Initially, a more experienced reporter led the coverage, but after witnessing the courtroom chaos, he left, leaving Deutsch in charge. Reflecting on this, she said, “I thought, ‘Oh, this is really something.’ I didn’t know trials could be like this.”

Her deep engagement with the legal system extended beyond celebrity trials. Deutsch spent months in Alaska covering the trial of Joseph Hazelwood, captain of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker, which caused a massive oil spill in 1989. She also attended the 1973 espionage trial of Daniel Ellsberg, the source of the Pentagon Papers leak.

Deutsch also reported on the gruesome trial of “Night Stalker” serial murderer Richard Ramirez and covered the epochal 1992 trial of the Los Angeles police officers filmed beating Rodney King. The officers’ acquittal resulted in catastrophic riots. “That almost destroyed my belief in the justice system,” Deutsch said in a 2014 interview.

A New Jersey native, her passion for journalism began at age 12 with an Elvis Presley fan club newsletter. By her sophomore year in college, she was already getting hands-on experience reporting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Deutsch moved to Southern California after graduation and joined the AP in 1967, initially aspiring to cover entertainment.

In addition to courts, Deutsch covered the Academy Awards and traveled to cover global events like the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. She also helped relocate AP staffers from Vietnam following the fall of Saigon.

Yet, it was the courtroom drama that truly captivated her. “It’s as old as Shakespeare and as old as Socrates,” Deutsch said in a 2007 interview. “It’s an extremely powerful theater that tells us about ourselves and about the people on trial. And I think it’s ever fascinating.”

Source: The Associated Press