Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed in a statement that prosecutors had gathered significant new evidence against Sam Haskell IV, who is accused of the murders of his wife Mei Haskell, her mother Yanxiang Wang, and her stepfather Gaoshan Li. The evidence was set to be unveiled during a preliminary hearing, where the prosecution planned to present details about Haskell’s alleged affair with a 27-year-old woman, as well as the DNA link found on a bloodstained knife. Corrsions officers found the 37-year-old dead in his cell Saturday, days before the hearing, where prosecutors were expected to outline the case against him. He previously pleaded not guilty.
Haskell’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He previously told Fox News Digital that the court’s assertion his client was at risk of self-harm was ‘wild speculation’ and condemned a judge’s decision that forced him to appear shirtless or wear a protective vest at prior hearings. The court’s order for him to appear shirtless was met with criticism from his legal team, who argued that it was an unnecessary provocation. The legal battle over his courtroom appearance highlighted the tensions within the case and the impact on the family dealing with the loss of their loved ones. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office released a summary of the evidence prosecutors planned to unseal at the hearing, which included the details of Haskell’s alleged actions and the forensic findings.
Investigators previously said that by the time officers arrived at his house, Haskell and the bags were gone. Fox News Digital also reported that surveillance cameras at a gym in Encino showed him placing a heavy bag in the dumpster outside. A homeless man looking through the trash made the gruesome discovery and called 911. Police found his wife’s car, which had her stepfather’s blood inside, Hochman’s office revealed Monday. They tracked Haskell to an Airbnb nearby, which investigators allege he had rented for himself and the children he shared with Mei Haskell after the murders. When police arrested Haskell, he was carrying a pocket knife and a Home Depot receipt from a few days earlier listing plywood, a moisture barrier, coveralls and diamond saw blades, Hochman’s office said Monday. In his rented SUV, he had a loaded .357 revolver, 32 rounds, a blood-covered knife, the family’s passports and a one-way ticket to Japan, according to authorities. They separately seized $67,000 cash during a search on his office.
DNA testing on the knife matched blood to all three victims, according to prosecutors. Joshua Ritter, a former Los Angeles deputy district attorney and a Fox News contributor, commented on the case, noting that the crime itself speaks to his mental unrest. He suggested that the crime could be linked to financial or marital difficulties, but the act of killing his in-laws and chopping their body parts up was extremely severe. The remains of Mei Haskell’s parents have not been found, and the investigation continues. The case has sparked widespread public interest and concern over the legal system’s handling of such severe crimes. The family’s loss and the public’s reaction have underscored the gravity of the situation, with calls for accountability and transparency in the legal proceedings.
Haskell’s parents, Hollywood producer Sam Haskell III and beauty queen and actress Mary Donnelly Haskell, are known for a series of Christmas movies. His father was also a former talent agent who represented George Clooney and Dolly Parton, among other A-list stars. The family’s background adds a layer of complexity to the case, as the entertainment industry reels from the tragic events. The legal and public scrutiny surrounding Haskell’s case continues, with authorities committed to ensuring the truth comes to light and justice is served for the victims and their families.