A Los Angeles man accused of dismembering his wife and murdering her parents died by suicide in jail, a family attorney confirmed.
Sam Haskell IV had been 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 found in a dumpster.
“This case has always been about a father who, like many other American fathers, would do anything to protect his children,” attorney Joseph Weimortz said in a statement to PEOPLE. “You do not know Samuel Haskell. He was paraded in front of you, over our objection, half-naked in court, and allowed zero dignity.”
“This created unfair speculation about his identity, his personality and his character,” it continued. “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 was required to rely on an ostomy bag,” the statement continued. “My client was not afraid of prison, but he was afraid of an even larger media spectacle. He was not afraid for himself, he was afraid for his boys.”
“He was afraid that every photo taken, every word written, would be a permanent scar his children would have to live with,” Weimortz continued in the statement. “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,” the statement continued. “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,” it continued. “My client’s acts were not acts of cowardice or lunacy. Ultimately, my client was even willing to take his own life, believing that it would end 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, and that something being right, are two different things. I implore you to think about those young boys when you report 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 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 represented George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dolly Parton.
Sam IV and Mei Li Haskell had three sons together.
NBC Los Angeles reported that Haskell was found dead two days before he was set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing.
Authorities had alleged that Haskell had hired four day laborers on Nov. 7, 2023 to dispose of several large trash bags, which one of the laborers said contained body parts.
That same day, Haskell was observed allegedly disposing of another trash bag that was later found to have a human torso in it, prosecutors said. The partial remains were later identified through DNA as his wife’s.
Haskell had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was being held without bail. He faced a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole had he been convicted as charged.
