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Ex-Hollywood Agent's Son Charged with Murder After Torso Believed to Be His Missing Wife Found in Dumpster
Samuel Haskell was arrested after a woman's torso was found wrapped in a bag and thrown in a garbage bin near his home. Police say they can't get ahold of his wife and her parents.
The son of a former Hollywood agent has been arrested after a torso of a woman believed to be his wife turned up in a garbage bin near his home.
Samuel Haskell, 35, was charged with murder and is being held on $2 million bail after an investigation into a woman’s remains led police to his residence, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Thursday.
On Wednesday, at around 6 a.m., detectives responded to a call that someone looking through dumpster bins discovered a bag containing a woman’s torso on Ventura Blvd. and Rubio Ave.
Investigators looked at video surveillance of the strip mall area where the dumpsters were and spotted a vehicle that led them to look into Haskell and search his Tarzana residence, ABC7 reported.
What did police find at Samuel Haskell's home?
"Here in the house, once officers made entry, what was discovered was evidence of a crime, including some blood evidence and other items that I'm not going to provide at this point," LAPD Det. Efren Gutierrez said at a press conference Wednesday, according to the station.
Haskell was arrested at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
It was determined that Haskell shares the home with his wife, 37-year-old Mei Li Haskell, who has since been confirmed missing. His in-laws, 71-year-old Gaoshan Li, and 64-year-old Yanxiang Wang, who were also confirmed missing, live at the residence as well, along with Haskell and his wife's three children.
“The children have been located and are being cared for by family members," the LAPD stated. "However, Haskell’s wife and in-laws have not been located."
Gutierrez said police have attempted to reach both Mei Li and her parents, but to no avail. Authorities are asking the public for help in finding them.
Officials are also searching for two missing vehicles: a white Volkswagen Tiguan, license number 9ANC890, and a white 2014 Nissan Pathfinder, license number 7FRM190.
L.A. Police Capt. Scott Williams of the Robbery-Homicide Division told the Los Angeles Times that police assume the torso likely belongs to Mei Li, though forensics will need to confirm the identity.
Samuel Haskell is the son of a former Hollywood agent
According to records obtained by the newspaper, Haskell is the son of former vice president of the William Morris Endeavor Agency, Sam Haskell. He has represented a myriad of Hollywood personalities, including Dolly Parton.
The elder Haskell is now the president of Magnolia Hill Productions, which was established in 2013, according to his LinkedIn.
Court documents also show that the former executive’s son was arrested in 2008 and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Haskell pleaded no contest to battery and was given three years’ probation in 2010, the Times reported.
A woman who did not want to reveal her identity spoke with ABC7 and claimed she was friends with Mei Li, having mingled with the couple at a house party.
"They came there ... very nice, beautiful, but the husband ... I was shocked,” she said. “Something seemed so off. Something seemed so weird. I kept saying to my family, 'Something is wrong with her husband.'"
Police ask that anyone with information in the case contact the department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section, at 213-486-6890. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247. Those who wish to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
