A Los Angeles man accused of dismembering his wife and murdering her parents committed suicide in jail, a family attorney confirmed.
Sam Haskell IV was charged with three counts of murder in connection with the November 2023 deaths of his wife, Mei Li Haskell, 37, and her parents, Gaoshan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64.
Haskell was arrested after a body part was discovered in a dumpster.
“This case has always been about a father who, like many other American fathers, would do anything to protect his children,” lawyer Joseph Weimortz told PEOPLE. “You don’t know Samuel Haskell. He was paraded in front of you, despite our objections, half-naked in court, with no dignity.”
“This created unfair speculation about his identity, his personality and his character,” said the report. “The truth is, Mr. Haskell was forced to wear a protective vest, which he could not pull up above his chest for medical reasons.”
“In 2013, he had a colectomy and had to rely on an ostomy bag,” the statement said. “My client was not afraid of prison; he was afraid of a much larger media spectacle. He was afraid for his boys, not himself.”
“He was afraid that every photo taken, every word written, would be a permanent scar that his children would have to live with,” Weimortz said. “He was afraid that every gory, salacious detail, regardless of its truth or falsity, would be used for public entertainment.”
“In order to avoid more media exposure, he was willing to waive his right to a preliminary hearing,” according to the statement. “In order to avoid more media exposure, he was willing to waive his right to a jury trial.”
“In order to avoid more media exposure, he was willing to plead,” he said. “My client’s actions were not indicative of cowardice or lunacy. Finally, my client was willing to commit suicide in the hope of putting an end to this terrible chaos.
“You have a right in this country to say what you want, print what you want, and turn human tragedy into entertainment, regardless of the cost paid by innocent children.”
“But having the right to do something is not the same as doing it correctly. “I implore you to consider those young boys when reporting this,” the statement continued. “Please think about how every word you choose to write about the tragic deaths of their mother and father will become an irreparable part of the legacy those boys have to live with.”
“The Haskell family grieves for every single life lost in this case,” the statement concluded. “They now respectfully request to be able to mourn in private and welcome your prayers.”
Haskell is the son of Sam Haskell III, an Emmy-winning producer and former agent who has represented George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dolly Parton.
Sam IV and Mei Li Haskell had three sons together.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Haskell was discovered dead two days before his scheduled preliminary hearing.
Authorities claimed Haskell hired four day laborers on November 7, 2023, to dispose of several large trash bags, one of which contained body parts.
The same day, Haskell was seen allegedly disposing of another trash bag, which was later discovered to contain a human torso, prosecutors said. The partial remains were later identified by DNA as his wife’s.
Haskell had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held without bail. He faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged.
