By Sarah Moon, Christina Maxouris and Steve Almasy | CNN
Los Angeles — The son of a Hollywood agent is going through costs within the killings of his lacking spouse and her mother and father after physique elements have been allegedly present in his trash and a close-by dumpster, in response to California prosecutors.
Samuel Haskell, 35, appeared Monday afternoon in a Los Angeles court docket the place a decide denied him bail however granted his lawyer’s request to postpone his arraignment. He was not requested to enter a plea to a few counts of homicide, every enhanced with particular allegations of a number of murders.
He was arrested final week after a part of a girl’s physique was present in a dumpster. The invention early Wednesday led investigators to the house he shared along with his spouse, their three kids and his in-laws. Los Angeles police say they searched the house and located blood and different proof – however they didn’t discover his spouse or her mother and father.
Prosecutors supplied new particulars within the chilling case Monday, alleging Haskell killed 37-year-old Mei Li Haskell, and her mother and father, 71-year-old Gaoshan Li and 64-year-old Yanxiang Wang. Up till now, investigators had stated the trio have been lacking.
CNN has reached out to Haskell’s lawyer for remark. Haskell, who appeared in court docket in a blue jail uniform, might be formally charged at his arraignment December 8.
Right here’s what we all know.
Haskell allegedly employed employees to take away trash luggage with physique elements
In a Monday information launch, prosecutors stated a day laborer – who was one in all 4 employees Haskell allegedly employed on Tuesday to take away some heavy black plastic trash luggage from his residence in Tarzana – discovered physique elements in a bag the laborer opened. The employee referred to as 911 and reported the invention.
The identical day somebody allegedly noticed and photographed Haskell placing a big trash bag right into a dumpster not removed from his residence, in response to the information launch from the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
The following day, a lady’s torso was present in that dumpster, in response to prosecutors.
The disturbing discover got here simply earlier than dawn Wednesday morning. An individual trying by way of dumpster bins behind a busy highway discovered a bag, and inside it, the physique half, authorities stated.
Whereas identification of the dismembered physique half is pending, one police official stated it’s believed to be Mei Li Haskell – the suspect’s spouse.
Police discovered blood inside the house
Investigators who responded to the decision in regards to the physique half present in a dumpster discovered info that led them to the suspect’s home within the West Valley space, the Los Angeles Police Division stated in a information launch. It’s unclear what info was discovered that led to the suspect.
On the residence, authorities discovered “blood proof and different gadgets,” LAPD Det. Efren Gutierrez stated in a information convention final week, in response to CNN affiliate KABC.
Haskell lived there along with his spouse and three kids, in addition to his in-laws. The youngsters have been discovered and are being cared for by members of the family, Los Angeles police stated.
However Haskell’s spouse and her mother and father have been lacking. Authorities began a search and famous their concern.
“The rationale we’re involved with their whereabouts is they might usually be residence throughout these hours,” Gutierrez stated final week throughout a information convention.
“Makes an attempt have been made to contact them by cellphone … no solutions. Similar with Mei, she is unaccounted for … makes an attempt have been made to name her telephone (and) nonetheless no reply,” the detective stated.
Police stated the identification of the torso stays ongoing. However Los Angeles police Capt. Scot Williams stated the torso is assumed to be the suspect’s spouse, Mei Li Haskell, the Los Angeles Occasions reported.
Suspect is son of Emmy-winning producer
Haskell is the son of Emmy-winning producer and Hollywood agent Sam Haskell, who served as an agent for Kathie Lee Gifford, Whoopi Goldberg, Dolly Parton, George Clooney and others.
CNN has additionally reached out to the senior Haskell for remark.
Investigators are additionally searching for two lacking autos, together with a white Volkswagen Tiguan and a white 2014 Nissan Pathfinder, in response to the LAPD information launch.
Authorities didn’t share any particulars about who the autos belong to and the way they might be related within the case.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable Information Community, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Firm. All rights reserved.
