Hollywood Heir Samuel Haskell Jr. Dies by Suicide Days Before Murder Trial

Samuel Bond Haskell Jr., the son of a prominent Hollywood producer and accused of the brutal 2023 murders and dismemberment of his wife, Mei Li Haskell, and her parents, Yanxiang Wang and Gaoshan Li, died by suicide in a Los Angeles jail while awaiting trial. His death occurred just days before prosecutors were set to present new evidence at a preliminary hearing, including proof of an affair and a blood-soaked knife containing the victims’ DNA.

Authorities discovered Haskell’s body in his cell at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility early Saturday morning. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed deep sorrow, stating that the family was robbed of the opportunity to confront him and seek justice for their unimaginable loss.

The case shocked the community due to its grisly details: Haskell allegedly murdered his wife and her parents at their Tarzana home, dismembered the bodies, and attempted to dispose of the remains by hiring laborers and dumping body parts in dumpsters. Surveillance footage showed him handling trash bags containing human remains, and police found weapons, bloody tools, and large sums of cash linked to Haskell.

Investigations also revealed that Haskell had been involved in an extramarital affair and had plans to relocate his children to his parents’ care. Despite pleading not guilty, he faced life imprisonment without parole if convicted.

Haskell’s death brings a tragic and complex chapter to a case that has drawn intense media attention, highlighting the devastating impact on the victims’ family and the community.