Sam Haskell Jr. Dies by Suicide in Jail While Awaiting Trial for Triple Homicide

Sam Haskell Jr., the son of a prominent Hollywood producer, died by suicide on Saturday, July 12, 2025, while in custody at a Los Angeles jail. His death occurred just days before a scheduled court hearing that would determine whether he would stand trial for the gruesome murders of his wife and her parents.

Haskell had been facing three counts of murder stemming from a 2023 case that shocked the Los Angeles community and captured national attention. Prosecutors accused him of killing his wife, Mei Li Haskell, and her parents, Gaoshan Li and Yanxiang Wang, before dismembering their bodies and placing the remains in garbage bags. According to investigators, he then hired day laborers to unknowingly dispose of the bags at a dump site.

The case drew intense scrutiny not only due to its disturbing details but also because of Haskell’s family ties. His father, Sam Haskell Sr., is a high-profile figure in the entertainment industry and the founder and president of Magnolia Hill Productions. The company has produced a number of successful television specials, including projects featuring Dolly Parton and classic programs like The Waltons.

Prior to founding his production company, Haskell Sr. served as Worldwide Head of Television at the prestigious William Morris Agency, where he represented a long list of Hollywood luminaries, including George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dolly Parton.

Following the initial discovery of one of the garbage bags containing human remains in late 2023, law enforcement quickly traced the evidence back to Haskell Jr. He was arrested and later entered a plea of not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom.

As of now, officials have not released additional details surrounding the circumstances of his death while in custody. With his suicide, the criminal proceedings against him will no longer move forward, effectively closing the case without a trial.

The tragedy adds yet another layer of sorrow and complexity to an already devastating story involving loss, violence, and the collapse of a family once tied to the glittering world of Hollywood.