A gangster, a bogus inheritance and a dead 19-year-old: the mystery Patrick Radden Keefe couldn’t ignore
When Zac Brettler jumped to his death in London, the coroner recorded an open verdict, admitting: ‘I don’t know what happened.’ The acclaimed author of Say Nothing and, now, London Falling, talks about his search for answers In the summer of 2023, the American writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe was in London for the filming of Say Nothing, the television adaptation of his much-lauded, much-awarded account of a Troubles murder. It was there, on set, that Keefe got talking to a visitor, a friend of the director, who happened to tell Keefe about friends of his, the Brettlers, a London family who had experienced something tragic, strange and terrible. Rachelle and Matthew Brettler’s 19-year-old son, Zac, had died in November 2019 when he jumped from the fifth-floor balcony of a luxury apartment overlooking the Thames. There had been no reason to believe he was suicidal – but plenty to suggest that he was very afraid. Zac had spent his last few months in the orbit of two men who believed him to be the son of a Russian oligarch, heir to a £200m legacy. Both men had been with Zac on the night he died – one had been in the apartment at the time – and gave varying accounts in police interviews. The family believed that the Met response had been full of holes – key witnesses hadn’t been formally interviewed, bloodstains on the apartment walls hadn’t been tested – and the investigation concluded in 2021 with the
In the summer of 2023, American writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe found himself in London for the filming of Say Nothing, the television adaptation of his critically acclaimed book about a Troubles murder. While on set, Keefe struck up a conversation with a visitor who was a friend of the director. During their talk, the visitor mentioned a tragic and mysterious event involving the Brettler family, friends of his. This chance encounter sparked a curiosity in Keefe that he couldn't ignore.
The Brettlers, Rachelle and Matthew, were a London family whose 19-year-old son, Zac, had died in November 2019. Zac's death occurred when he jumped from the fifth-floor balcony of a luxury apartment that overlooked the Thames. The coroner's verdict was inconclusive, with the official record stating, “I don’t know what happened.” This open verdict left the Brettlers and others questioning the circumstances surrounding Zac's death.
There was no indication that Zac was suicidal. In fact, the opposite seemed to be true. In the months leading up to his death, Zac had become entangled with two men who claimed he was the son of a Russian oligarch and the heir to a £200 million inheritance. These men played a significant role in Zac's life during that period, and both were present with him on the night he died. One of them was even in the apartment at the time, while the other was nearby. However, their accounts of the events leading up to Zac's death varied significantly in their police interviews.
The Brettlers were deeply troubled by the Metropolitan Police's handling of the case. They believed that key witnesses had not been properly interviewed, and crucial evidence, such as bloodstains found on the apartment walls, had not been thoroughly examined. The investigation concluded in 2021 with the Crown Prosecution Service deciding that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges for murder or perverting the course of justice. The inquest held in 2022 also ended in an open verdict, with the coroner stating, “I can’t fill in the gaps; I can’t speculate. I don’t know what happened.”
Patrick Radden Keefe, whose work often delves into complex and troubling stories, was compelled to explore the mystery surrounding Zac Brettler's death. His interest in the case was not only piqued by the tragic circumstances but also by the parallels he saw between this story and his own work. The similarities between Zac's situation and the themes explored in his book Say Nothing, which detailed a harrowing murder during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, resonated with him on a personal level.
As Keefe delved deeper into the Brettler case, he encountered a web of deception and intrigue. The two men who had befriended Zac claimed to have evidence supporting their assertion that he was the heir to a vast fortune. They presented documents and connections that suggested a link to a Russian oligarch, but the validity of this information was questionable. The Brettlers, however, were left to wonder if these men had played a more sinister role in Zac's life than they let on.
The Metropolitan Police's investigation into Zac's death raised questions about its thoroughness and effectiveness. The family's concerns about the handling of the case were not addressed, and the open verdict only served to deepen the mystery. This lack of closure left the Brettlers searching for answers, and Keefe, driven by his own sense of curiosity and a desire to uncover the truth, decided to chronicle their story.
In the process of writing about the Brettlers' ordeal, Keefe not only sought to piece together the events leading to Zac's death but also examined the broader implications of the case. The story of Zac Brettler and his family became a poignant exploration of the dangers of deception, the consequences of unanswered questions, and the search for truth in the face of adversity.
As Keefe's investigation unfolded, he encountered a complex tapestry of human emotions and motivations. The Brettlers' anguish over the loss of their son was intertwined with the uncertainties surrounding his death. The two men who had claimed a connection to Zac's supposed inheritance presented a confusing narrative that was difficult to reconcile with the available evidence.
The case of Zac Brettler's death serves as a stark reminder of the intricacies and challenges inherent in investigating tragic and mysterious circumstances. The open verdict in his case highlights the limitations of the legal system in providing definitive answers, and the Brettlers' ongoing quest for closure underscores the human need for understanding in the face of loss and uncertainty.
Patrick Radden Keefe's decision to write about the Brettlers' story was not only a professional endeavor but also a personal one. His own experiences and the themes explored in his previous work resonated with the complexities of this case, making it an irresistible subject for his inquiry. Through his writing, Keefe aims to shed light on the enigmatic circumstances surrounding Zac Brettler's death and to honor the memory of a young man whose life was cut short under mysterious circumstances.
The Brettlers' story is a haunting reminder of the power of deception and the consequences of unanswered questions. As Patrick Radden Keefe delves into the case, he not only seeks to uncover the truth but also to provide a platform for the Brettlers' anguish and their quest for answers. The mystery of Zac Brettler's death, a tale of a bogus inheritance, a gangster, and a young man's tragic end, continues to captivate and challenge those who dare to investigate.
