Sisters of Ex-'Survivor' Producer's Slain Wife Lose Bid for Overnight Stays

The two sisters of former "Survivor" producer and Rancho Palos Verdes resident Bruce Beresford-Redman's slain wife lost their bid Tuesday for overnight stays with their late sibling's two children during the holidays, but they were granted some additional hours with their niece and nephew.

Attorneys for Jeane Burgos and Carla Van Bastelaar filed court papers Nov. 19 with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, saying the sisters wanted their 85-year-old father, Joao Buros Filho, to be able to spend as much time as possible with 7-year-old Camila and 5-year-old Alec Beresford- Redman during the Christmas holiday season.

Filho arrived last week for the Thanksgiving holiday from Brazil for his first visit to California in two years. He was present in court with Burgos for today's hearing.

"Some extra time is warranted in that the children have maintained regular contact with their maternal grandfather through Skype and look forward to being with him," according to the sisters' court papers.

The producer's parents, David and Juanita Beresford-Redman of Gardena, remain guardians of the children while their son awaits trial in Mexico in the death of his 41-year-old wife, Monica. Her body was found in April 2010 in a sewer at the Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, where the two were vacationing without their children.

Burgos and Van Bastelaar have regular visitation with their niece and nephew, but needed permission from the paternal grandparents for additional time. Beckloff's intervention was required after the sisters sought to include overnight stays in the holiday visitation, which are not part of the general order.

Attorney Rachel Silverman, on behalf of the guardians, said after the hearing that her clients did not object to giving the sisters and their father more time with the children. However, she said the paternal grandparents were given short notice of the request.