Son of Disgraced Hollywood Exec Charged in Triple Murder of Wife, In-Laws

The son of a former Hollywood executive was charged with murder on Monday in connection with the death of his wife and both of her parents, Los Angeles County’s district attorney announced.

Samuel Haskell IV, 35, was charged with three counts of murder less than a week after he was arrested in connection with the grisly discovery of a woman’s torso near a dumpster behind a strip mall in the neighborhood of Encino.

Investigators believe the torso, which was found in a bag next to the dumpster, is that of Haskell’s wife, 37-year-old Mei Haskell. Her parents, Gaoshan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64, have also been reported missing and are believed to be dead. Haskell IV’s in-laws lived with the couple and their three children at the family’s home in Tarzana.

“These shocking and gruesome crimes have sent shockwaves through our community. We stand with the victims’ loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time and will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “Our Major Crimes Division will work tirelessly to bring about a prosecution that reflects the severity of this devastating crime.”

Mei Haskell and her parents were last seen on or about Nov. 6. The following day, according to prosecutors, Haskell allegedly hired four day laborers to haul away several black trash bags from his home.

One of the workers claimed to have seen body parts in one of the bags and subsequently reported the incident to the police. Haskell was also allegedly seen that same day throwing a large trash bag into a dumpster near his home.

A person looking through the dumpster the following day found the bag and reported to police that it contained a woman’s torso. Haskell was arrested the same day on suspicion of murder.

Haskell IV is the son of Samuel Haskell III, the former CEO of the Miss America Organization and a former agent who represented various celebrity clients, including Dolly Parton and George Clooney. Haskell IV was the CEO of the Miss America Organization until he resigned in 2017 due to a scandal involving allegedly sexist and crude emails he sent about former contestants.

Haskell IV’s arraignment was continued to Dec. 8, according to Gascón’s office. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.