West

Lawyer for Hollywood headless torso suspect says his client is being forced to show up shirtless in court

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

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Lawyer for Hollywood headless torso suspect says his client is being forced to show up shirtless in court

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Sam Haskell IV, the Hollywood heir accused of chopping up his wife and her parents before security cameras allegedly captured him throwing a torso in a dumpster, pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles courthouse Friday.

Haskell, 35, appeared shirtless for the second time after being accused of killing Mei Haskell, 37, and her parents, Goashan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64, who moved to the U.S. from China to be near their grandchildren, the Haskells’ three sons.

News photographers were instructed to take pictures from the neck up Friday after the judge denied a request from Haskell’s defense to cover him up. His shirt was taken due to concerns over a risk of self-harm, which his lawyer called “wild speculation.”

“This situation is dehumanizing and creates an inaccurate image of Mr. Haskell.”
— Joe Weimortz, defense attorney

HOLLYWOOD SCION SAM HASKELL, ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE AND HER PARENTS, SHOWS UP SHIRTLESS IN LA COURT

Sam Haskell appears in Department 30 Criminal Courts in Los Angeles on Friday. (Splash News for Fox News Digital)

“Mr. Haskell has not indicated he wants to harm himself,” Haskell’s lawyer, Joe Weimortz, told Fox News Digital in an email after the arraignment.

Nevertheless, the sheriff’s department wants him to wear an anti-self-harm vest, he said.

“[But] Mr. Haskell has a pre-existing medical condition which prevents him from wearing the vest. The Sheriff’s Department will not allow him to appear with a shirt, gown or blanket,” Weimortz added. “The result is he has to appear in court naked from the waist up. This has led to rampant speculation in the media. This situation is dehumanizing and creates an inaccurate image of Mr. Haskell.”

Sam Haskell was arrested in connection with Mei Haskell’s disappearance and suspected murder after police found a headless woman’s torso in a dumpster near their home. (Sam Haskell/Instagram)

Haskell appeared Friday in blue jail pants with his wrists chained in front of his waist. He spoke little, telling the judge, “Yes, your honor,” when asked if he understood what was happening. He glanced around the room, occasionally looking up at the ceiling or raising his eyebrows.

After a homeless person searching through a dumpster in November found a headless torso wrapped in plastic, police recovered surveillance video that allegedly showed Haskell dropping off a heavy garbage bag the prior morning in broad daylight.

Sam Haskell is charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Mei Haskell, and her parents, Goashan Li and Yanxiang Wang. (Splash News for Fox News Digital)

Police visited Haskell’s home twice prior to his arrest. On the first occasion, a group of day laborers told them they had been asked to remove suspicious bags that felt heavy and soggy. However, responding officers found no evidence at the scene and left.

The second time, they brought a search warrant and allegedly found blood and other evidence inside, according to LAPD Detective Efren Gutierrez. Police arrested Haskell at a shopping mall nearby.

Sam Haskell, the 35-year-old scion of a Hollywood family known for TV Christmas movies, is in a Los Angeles jail after police found a headless woman’s body in a dumpster. His wife and in-laws are missing. (KTTV, Sam Haskell/Instagram, LAPD)

HOLLYWOOD HEADLESS TORSO SUSPECT SAM HASKELL ‘PARANOID’ WEEKS BEFORE BODY FOUND IN DUMPSTER, FRIEND SAYS

Haskell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, as well as special circumstance allegations that would increase the sentencing if convicted.

He was ordered held without bail and could face a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.

From left: Sam Haskell III, Mary Lane Haskell and Mary Donnelly-Haskell attend the Netflix premiere of Dolly Parton’s “Heartstrings” in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Oct. 29, 2019. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Netflix)

Haskell’s parents, Hollywood producer Sam Haskell III and beauty queen and actress Mary Donnelly Haskell, are known for a series of Christmas movies.

Haskell’s father was also a former talent agent who represented George Clooney and Dolly Parton, among other A-list stars.

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Haskell scowled in court during his first appearance in November, as a group of Mei’s friends sat in the gallery, some carrying handwritten signs that read, “We Miss Mei” and “Justice for Mei Today!” During the hearing, some of them could be heard crying.

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West

Las Vegas first responders conduct seven-hour rescue of injured climber stranded 600 feet up rock face

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

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Las Vegas first responders conduct seven-hour rescue of injured climber stranded 600 feet up rock face

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First responders in Nevada carried out a dramatic seven-hour rescue after a climber was seriously injured while stranded roughly 600 feet up a steep rock face near Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said search and rescue teams were notified around noon Saturday about an injured climber on the “Dream Safari” route along Dark Shadows Wall in Pine Creek.

Authorities said the climber had fallen an estimated 40 to 50 feet, suffering severe head and back injuries.

The victim’s climbing partner and a guide from another climbing party reached the injured climber and controlled the bleeding while awaiting rescue crews.

Rescuers secured the climber in a titanium litter and lowered the patient in stages down the rock face. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

Four search and rescue officers and a lead climb volunteer were inserted by the department’s AIR3 helicopter several hundred feet above the victim at the top of the route.

Rescuers then rappelled down the rock face, provided medical treatment while suspended mid-face, and secured the patient in a titanium litter.

Crews constructed a lowering system and brought the climber several hundred feet down to the ground through three separate lowering stations, with a rescuer attending to the patient during the descent.

RAFTER VANISHES IN OREGON WILDERNESS, SURVIVES FIVE-DAY ORDEAL BEFORE HELICOPTER RESCUE

Las Vegas police search and rescue teams spent seven hours lowering an injured climber 600 feet to safety. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

Once at the base, additional volunteers carried the litter to an extraction point where the helicopter returned to airlift the victim to a Bureau of Land Management helipad.

The climber was then transferred to a ground ambulance and taken to a local hospital.

NORWEGIAN CLIMBER LOOKING TO BECOME FASTEST PERSON TO CLIMB WORLD’S 14 HIGHEST MOUNTAINS

The climber’s helmet was destroyed in the fall but likely saved the person’s life, officials said. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

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LVMPD wrote on Facebook that the entire operation lasted about seven hours from initial insertion to final extraction.

“Although the victim’s helmet was destroyed during the fall, it likely saved their life,” police said.

Ashley Carnahan is a writer at Fox News Digital.

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San Francisco, CA

Floats for San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade get finishing touches

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

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Floats for San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade get finishing touches

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ABC7 Eyewitness News got a sneak peak as crews put the finishing touches on the floats you’ll see at Saturday’s San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade.

Since it’s the year of the fire horse, you’ll see a lot of horses and fire symbolism on the floats, housed at Pier 19.

“So Year of the Horse, it’s energy, it’s passion, it’s momentum so a lot of things that we’re really hoping to embody in the new year,” said Stephanie Mufson, owner of San Francisco-based The Parade Guys, which designs and constructs the floats.

She said they’ve been building them for about three months, with the designs starting in November.

MORE: Bay Area artist brings Year of the Horse statue to life for Golden State Warriors

“We’re in the home stretch,” she said. “We’ve got a couple of days left and we’ve got a nice little team that’s cranking out all the finishing work that needs to go into it.”

Derrick Shavers was sanding some wood that will be painted and become cherry blossom trees on a float.

“It’s exciting,” Shavers said. “I look forward to coming every year and just creating and making things shine and sparkle.”

Bon was painting mountains for a float, making sure everything is perfect in time for the parade.

MORE: Meet the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade mascot, Maverick

“It’s one of the few parades that actually happens at night still,” Bon said. “So we got to make sure all the lighting is in check, and people are safe on the float. It’s all in the details, just for it to walk by you for 10 seconds.”

Ten seconds that bring so much joy to those watching the parade.

Here’s how you can watch the parade on ABC7 Eyewitness News on Saturday, March 7.

Coverage starts at 5 p.m. wherever you stream ABC7.

SF Chinese New Year Parade 2026: How to watch ABC7 Eyewitness News live coverage

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

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Denver, CO

Grand Junction, Palisade reach Great Eight in Denver

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Grand Junction, Palisade reach Great Eight in Denver

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.

At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.

Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.

Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.

Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.

Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.

Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.

Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win

In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.

Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.

Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller

The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.

New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.

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