November 10, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA—Samuel Haskell Jr., 35, was arrested on Wednesday at a mall in Topanga and has been charged with murder.
Haskell’s wife, Mei, 37, is missing. Investigation into Samuel Haskell began Wednesday morning after a homeless man discovered a torso wrapped in a plastic bag while digging for recyclables at a strip mall near Ventura Boulevard and Rubio Avenue, according to ABC7.
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage of a vehicle in the business plaza and developed evidence that led them to Samuel.
Authorities say Mei Haskell, and her parents Yanxiang Wang and Gaoshen Li, are currently missing as well. They all lived together at a home in the 4100 block of Coldstream Terrace in Tarzana with Samuel.
“The reason we’re concerned with their whereabouts is they would normally be home during these hours,” stated Det. Efren Gutierrez with the Los Angeles Police Department during an evening news conference.
“Attempts have been made to contact them by cell phone … no answers. Same with Mei, she is unaccounted for … attempts have been made to call her phone [and] still no answer.”
Samuel Haskell’s father, Samuel Haskell Sr., was a high-profile agent with William Morris, whose clients included Dolly Parton, George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, and Prince Edward of England.
Mei and Samuel Haskell have three young boys together, who have since been placed in the care of the county Department of Children and Family Services, reports ABC7.
One woman spoke with ABC7 Thursday morning and told them she had a friendship with Mei and even invited the couple to a house party.
“They came there … very nice, beautiful, but the husband … I was shocked. Something seemed so off. Something seemed so weird. I kept saying to my family, ‘Something is wrong with her husband.'”
Samuel is currently being held in the Van Nuys Jail on $2 million bail.
Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-486-6890.
Feature Images via Instagram