logo
Son of Ex-Hollywood Agent, Jailed in 3 Murders, Dies by Suicide, D.A. Says

Son of Ex-Hollywood Agent, Jailed in 3 Murders, Dies by Suicide, D.A. Says

New York Times14-07-2025
Two days before his next court appearance in the dismemberment of his wife and his in-laws, the son of a once prominent Hollywood producer was found dead on Saturday at a Los Angeles jail, according to the authorities, who ruled the death a suicide.
The inmate, Samuel Haskell, 37, had been scheduled to return to court in Los Angeles on Monday morning for a preliminary hearing to determine if he should stand trial in the 2023 murders.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, detectives from its homicide bureau were called on Saturday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility to investigate the death of an inmate whom the agency identified as Mr. Haskell.
The Sheriff's Department did not say how or when Mr. Haskell, the son of Sam Haskell III, an Emmy-winning film producer and veteran talent agent, had died.
But the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed on Monday that Mr. Haskell, who could have faced life in prison if convicted, had killed himself.
'Instead of standing before a judge and answering for the crimes he's been charged with, the defendant managed to escape justice,' Nathan J. Hochman, the district attorney, said in a statement. 'This is one last cruel act by someone who did the most horrific things for reasons we will never entirely know.'
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Judge bars Beto O'Rourke's PAC from funding Texas Democrats in redistricting standoff
Judge bars Beto O'Rourke's PAC from funding Texas Democrats in redistricting standoff

CBS News

time30 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Judge bars Beto O'Rourke's PAC from funding Texas Democrats in redistricting standoff

A Texas judge has blocked former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and his political action committee from funding Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to hold up a Republican-backed redistricting plan that could add five GOP congressional seats. The temporary restraining order marks an early win for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued O'Rourke's PAC — Powered by People — for financially supporting Democrats who fled the state last weekend. The Texas House failed to reach a quorum again on Friday, preventing lawmakers from voting on the new congressional maps, as GOP officials float ousting the absent Democrats from office or seeking civil arrests. Tarrant County Judge Megan Fahey's order blocks Powered by People from using political funds to pay for travel, hotel or dining for the dozens of Texas legislators who remain in Illinois, California and other states. The group also can't raise money for those purposes. The order will remain in effect for two weeks, unless Fahey decides to extend it. She scheduled a hearing for Aug. 19. Paxton alleges the group engaged in deceptive fundraising and bribery by covering travel and lodging expenses for the lawmakers, who traveled to Illinois and other blue states to deny Republicans a quorum. The lawsuit claims O'Rourke and Powered by People misled donors by soliciting political contributions that were allegedly used for personal expenses, including private jet travel and luxury accommodations. "The Beto Bribe buyouts that were bankrolling the runaway Democrats have been officially stopped," Paxton said in a statement. "People like (O'Rourke) believe Texas can be bought. Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to 'come and take it,' so I did." O'Rourke responded with a countersuit, accusing Paxton of trying to silence dissent and dismantle one of the country's largest voter registration organizations. "They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won't," O'Rourke said in a message on X. "Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections… the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas." Powered by People focuses on organizing volunteers in Texas to register voters, mobilize Democratic-leaning voters and support Democratic candidates. O'Rourke also pointed to the group's efforts during the 2021 winter storm, saying volunteers made more than a million calls to connect seniors to warming centers and purchased nearly $1 million in emergency supplies. "Now Paxton's filed a restraining order to try to take us out of the fight," O'Rourke said. "He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trump's attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power." Despite the legal setback, O'Rourke said he plans to speak at a rally in Fort Worth on Saturday. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. Also on Friday, Paxton filed a separate lawsuit against 13 Democratic lawmakers, asking the Texas Supreme Court to declare their seats vacant for abandoning the state during the special legislative session.

Mike Madigan must report to prison during appeal, judge rules
Mike Madigan must report to prison during appeal, judge rules

CBS News

time30 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Mike Madigan must report to prison during appeal, judge rules

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan must report to prison while he appeals his conviction, a judge ruled Friday. In June, Madigan was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after being convicted on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges. He was also ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine. He was acquitted on seven other charges and jurors deadlocked on six further counts. Madigan formally filed an appeal for those convictions on July 23 and asked a judge to keep him from going to prison during the appeal. The judge shot that down on Friday, ruling he failed "to meet the burden to show that his appeal will raise a substantial question of law or fact."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store