Sam Haskell Jr., a 37‑year‑old man from Los Angeles, was found dead by suicide in his jail cell on July 12, 2025, just days before a preliminary court hearing.
He had been awaiting trial on charges that he allegedly murdered his wife and her parents—an unthinkable crime that shocked authorities and the community. It was a brutal, complex case, and now, with his death, many questions remain unanswered.
In November 2023, police say Sam allegedly killed his wife, Mei Haskell (37), her mother, Yanxiang Wang (64), and stepfather, Gaoshan Li (72), in their family home in Tarzana, Los Angeles.
The following day, he reportedly hired laborers to remove large black trash bags from the house—bags later linked to body parts. Eventually, a torso believed to be Mei’s was discovered in a dumpster in Encino; the remains of the older two were never found.
Investigators collected a chilling amount of evidence: bloody tools, DNA matches to the victims, surveillance footage of him disposing of bags, weapons, and receipts. According to prosecutors, it all pointed decisively to Sam.
Who was Sam Haskell Jr Wife Mei?
Mei Li Haskell was more than just a tragic figure in the headlines. She was a mother of three and described by relatives as a hardworking and loving person. The couple reportedly met at California State University, Northridge, and started their family soon after.
Mei held down multiple jobs and was the main financial provider in the household. When her parents moved from China around 2010, they all lived together, sharing joys and burdens under one roof.
Sam Haskell Jr Left Behind Three Children
Sam and Mei had three young children—whose ages haven’t been publicly disclosed but are clearly under the age of 18.
In the aftermath of the alleged murders, the children were placed temporarily with relatives while the legal process was unfolding.
According to statements at the time, Sam expressed deep concern about how the public spectacle of a trial would affect their well‑being.
Now, with his suicide, their lives are forever altered, and the chaos around them has only grown darker.
The Impact of the Suicide
Sam’s suicide in custody not only ended his life but also shut down the judicial process. He had pleaded not guilty and was due in court on July 14, 2025, for a hearing that would determine if the case would proceed to trial.
Facing a possible sentence of life without parole, he reportedly offered to waive the preliminary hearing and jury trial—something his lawyer said was due to his fear of exposing his children to intense scrutiny.
Prosecutors condemned his death as a cruel escape from justice and a denial of closure for the victims’ families.
Sam—sometimes referred to as Samuel Bond Haskell IV—was the son of a prominent Hollywood figure, Sam Haskell Sr., known for his executive career in the TV industry.
That legacy has now been overshadowed by this horrific family tragedy. Friends and neighbors describe the Haskell family as private but tight-knit, making the public collapse all the more shocking.
Since Sam never stood trial, all the evidence he would have faced before a jury remains untested in court. The whereabouts of Mei’s parents’ bodies are still unknown.
And the children—caught in the middle—are now left with no answers, no voice in public proceedings, and a future fraught with uncertainty.
How will they cope? Who will support them? And who will ever truly know what happened behind closed doors?
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