Son of Former Hollywood Agent Arrested in Connection to Grisly Murder Investigation
Nov 13, 2023, 12:00 PM
Samuel Haskell IV, the 35-year-old son of former Hollywood agent Samuel Haskell III, has been taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on suspicion of murder. The arrest follows the disturbing discovery of a dismembered woman's torso in a dumpster, believed to be connected to the disappearance of Haskell's wife, Mei Haskell, and her parents.
The investigation began when a homeless man searching for recyclables stumbled upon the gruesome find in a dumpster approximately five miles from Samuel Haskell IV's Tarzana residence. Before this discovery, construction workers had reported seeing suspicious black bags near Haskell's home, raising concerns. However, by the time the police arrived, the bags had vanished.
LAPD Detective Efren Gutierrez stated, "There was no evidence that allowed the officers to make entry into the home" during their initial visit. But when the dismembered torso matched the description of the bags reported by the workers, a second crime scene was established at Haskell's residence, where investigators uncovered "blood evidence."
Authorities had already received reports of Mei Haskell, 37, and her parents, Yanxiang Wang, 64, and Gaoshan Li, 72, missing before the grim discovery, and their whereabouts remain unknown as of today. The couple's three children were located at school and subsequently placed under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Police believe the dismemberment may have been an attempt to delay the identification process, and they will rely on DNA evidence to determine the victim's identity.
Samuel Haskell IV's connection to the entertainment industry through his father, Samuel Haskell III, is notable. The elder Haskell served as the executive vice president of the William Morris Agency, representing numerous prominent figures in Hollywood, including George Clooney, Dolly Parton, and Whoopi Goldberg. Haskell III retired in 2005 and currently presides over Magnolia Hill Productions.
Haskell III's career also included a stint as the CEO of the Miss America organization, but he resigned amid controversy over emails containing harsh criticism and vulgar comments about past winners.
This arrest is not Samuel Haskell IV's first brush with the law. Records obtained by the LA Times reveal that in December 2008, he faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon, ultimately pleading no contest to battery and receiving three years' probation in 2010.
A neighbor who had a friendship with Mei Haskell expressed concerns about Samuel Haskell IV, stating, "Something seemed so weird. I kept saying to my family, 'Something is wrong with her husband.'"
Samuel Haskell IV is currently being held on $2 million bail at the Valley Jail in Van Nuys in connection with the gruesome torso discovery. The investigation into this chilling murder case continues, with authorities working diligently to piece together the events leading up to this shocking tragedy.
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The investigation began when a homeless man searching for recyclables stumbled upon the gruesome find in a dumpster approximately five miles from Samuel Haskell IV's Tarzana residence. Before this discovery, construction workers had reported seeing suspicious black bags near Haskell's home, raising concerns. However, by the time the police arrived, the bags had vanished.
LAPD Detective Efren Gutierrez stated, "There was no evidence that allowed the officers to make entry into the home" during their initial visit. But when the dismembered torso matched the description of the bags reported by the workers, a second crime scene was established at Haskell's residence, where investigators uncovered "blood evidence."
Authorities had already received reports of Mei Haskell, 37, and her parents, Yanxiang Wang, 64, and Gaoshan Li, 72, missing before the grim discovery, and their whereabouts remain unknown as of today. The couple's three children were located at school and subsequently placed under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Police believe the dismemberment may have been an attempt to delay the identification process, and they will rely on DNA evidence to determine the victim's identity.
Samuel Haskell IV's connection to the entertainment industry through his father, Samuel Haskell III, is notable. The elder Haskell served as the executive vice president of the William Morris Agency, representing numerous prominent figures in Hollywood, including George Clooney, Dolly Parton, and Whoopi Goldberg. Haskell III retired in 2005 and currently presides over Magnolia Hill Productions.
Haskell III's career also included a stint as the CEO of the Miss America organization, but he resigned amid controversy over emails containing harsh criticism and vulgar comments about past winners.
This arrest is not Samuel Haskell IV's first brush with the law. Records obtained by the LA Times reveal that in December 2008, he faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon, ultimately pleading no contest to battery and receiving three years' probation in 2010.
A neighbor who had a friendship with Mei Haskell expressed concerns about Samuel Haskell IV, stating, "Something seemed so weird. I kept saying to my family, 'Something is wrong with her husband.'"
Samuel Haskell IV is currently being held on $2 million bail at the Valley Jail in Van Nuys in connection with the gruesome torso discovery. The investigation into this chilling murder case continues, with authorities working diligently to piece together the events leading up to this shocking tragedy.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com