48 Hours: "The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man"

CBS News | March 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, "48 Hours" investigates the shocking true story behind a failed murder-for-hire plot that reads like a Hollywood thriller but took place in real life among Los Angeles’ wealthy elite. At the center: Monica Olson, a former model and skincare entrepreneur; Dino Guglielmelli, her multi-millionaire husband and supplement mogul; and Rick Furman, the man Dino tried to recruit to kill his wife. The story uncovers a tangled web of lies, abuse, desperation, and astonishing twists, told through first-hand interviews and chilling wire recordings that ultimately led to Dino’s conviction—and Monica’s survival.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Characters and Their Background

• Dino Guglielmelli: From farm boy in Walla Walla, Washington to Los Angeles supplement millionaire, Dino built a multi-level marketing empire (Creations Garden) and played at being a rock star (05:11).
• Monica Olson: A Canadian-born model who moved to LA, pursued acting, and started her own skincare line with Dino (04:14, 12:02). Initially swept away by romance and Dino’s wealth.
• Rick Furman: A business partner of Dino’s, former military, ultimately entrusted with a deadly task (02:48).

2. The Marriage Story: Romance & Control

• The marriage began like a fairy tale—whirlwind romance, European proposal (06:04)—but dark undertones of control and infidelity soon surfaced. Dino wanted Monica to be a compliant housewife, while Monica sought independence through her career (07:17, 12:02).
• Monica: “He was persistent, he was charming... Throughout our marriage, he spoiled me.” (11:11)
• Dino’s brother, Gino, called Monica a “gold digger,” sowing seeds of mistrust within the family (06:40).

3. Escalating Control, Divorce, and False Accusations

• Monica’s desire to restart her career triggered Dino’s increasing possessiveness and anger (12:07).
• Monica began documenting Dino’s alarming behavior, gathering videos and recordings (13:07).
• Allegations flew both ways, with Monica arrested for alleged domestic violence, corroborated by their daughters (15:29), but charges were later dropped for lack of evidence (17:08).
• Testimony from Dino’s first wife, Leisha Devine, revealed a pattern: Dino had accused her of similar behavior and taken everything in their divorce (16:11).

4. The Murder-for-Hire Plot Unfolds

• Facing costly alimony and loss of control, Dino solicited Rick Furman to have Monica killed (02:48, 09:11, 13:56).
• Rick, trying to stall Dino, lied that Monica had been infected with HIV to buy time (14:11).
• The pressure mounted to the breaking point: “3, 5, 7, 10 times a week. Phone calls at 4am in the morning. When’s this gonna end?” (17:19)
• Monica: “It’s all or nothing. It’s the Hunger Games. It’s kill or be killed.” (17:29)

5. The Sting Operation and Dino's Arrest

• Rick confided in Monica’s divorce attorney, triggering a police sting (18:04).
• Rick wore a wire to lunch with Dino, capturing chilling conversations:
  • “You want her dead? 100%.” —Rick Furman [19:13]
  • “Why wouldn’t I?” —Dino Guglielmelli [19:20]
  • Rick: “When I get up out of this seat, it’s done, it’s over.”
• Dino agreed to pay Rick $80,000 and wanted the murder to look like a cartel hit in Mexico (23:27, 23:41).
• Monica, aware of the sting, hid in a hotel; Dino went home “presumably thinking their mother was dead” (24:11).

6. The Evidence, Plea Deal, and Aftermath

• Wire recordings served as crucial evidence for DA Emily Cole, but Rick’s credibility complicated the prosecution (33:40).
• Dino ultimately took a plea deal for nine years on attempted murder (35:33–35:43).
• Monica: “I think my life is worth more than that to me. The intent shows the criminal mind.” (35:43)
• Dino claimed he was manipulated by Rick, denied responsibility, and accused Rick of being the instigator (26:26–32:34).
• Rick and Monica both expressed persistent fear for their safety even after Dino’s incarceration and release.

7. Reflections from the Participants

• Monica on fear and resilience: “I intend on really making something of my experience… If somebody can look at my life and what I’ve been through and learn from it, then I’ve done something right.” (40:58)
• Their daughters lived through the trauma—Monica recalling her youngest saying, "God gave Daddy a timeout." (39:56)
• Dino released on parole in 2019 after serving about six years, with parole ending in 2021 (41:44).
• Persistent questions and anxieties remain about Dino's access to hidden assets and future intentions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rick Furman on Dino's intent (02:48):
  “He wanted her dead. He didn’t care how it was done. Beat her up, cut her head off, put her in a ditch. My name is Richard Furman, and Dino Guglielmelli hired me to murder his wife.”

• Dino on his daughters, showing chilling disregard (04:04):
  “They’ll be much better off without her. I will find them a good mother and I’ll even have you check her out first.”

• Monica on Dino’s change (12:31):
  “Huge. He went dark. I mean, it was as if he was possessed.”

• Rick recounts stalling Dino with a lie (14:32):
  “How big can you smile? It’s not a joke. I mean, literally, how big can you smile? Because his was pretty big.”

• Rick describes Dino’s obsession (17:19):
  “The pressure was on to kill her. 3, 5, 7, 10 times a week. Phone calls at 4am in the morning. When’s this gonna end?”

• Monica on Dino’s mindset (17:29):
  “There is no such a concept. In his mind, it’s all or nothing. It’s the Hunger Games. It’s kill or be killed.”

• On tape, Dino gives the green light (19:13–19:20):
  Rick: “You want her dead? 100%.”
  Dino: “Why wouldn’t I?”

• Monica on the court’s sentence (35:43):
  “I think my life is worth more than that to me. The intent shows the criminal mind. So if I try to kill you and the bullet misses you by half an inch, am I less of a criminal because I don’t have a good aim?”

• Monica, on reclaiming her power (40:58):
  “I’m not going to allow this man to do this to me. No. I intend on really making something of my experience and not shying away from what happened.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:48] Rick Furman reveals Dino hired him for Monica’s murder
• [04:14] Monica's background and early marriage to Dino
• [07:17–12:07] Relationship deterioration, Monica’s growing independence, and Dino’s control
• [13:56] Details of murder-for-hire solicitation
• [14:11–15:15] Rick’s stalling, Monica’s arrest, and custody loss
• [16:11–17:08] Leisha Devine recounts similar past abuse
• [17:19–17:29] Dino’s harassment intensifies; Monica’s chilling realization
• [18:04–19:13] Rick blows the whistle, agrees to wear a wire
• [19:13–24:07] The sting: wiretap lunch, Dino’s explicit instructions, plan acceptance
• [24:30] Dino’s arrest
• [29:19–32:34] Dino’s jailhouse denials and shifting the blame
• [33:40–35:43] Rick’s credibility, evidence, plea negotiations
• [35:43] Monica’s reaction to the plea deal
• [39:56] Monica discusses explaining events to her children
• [41:44] Dino’s release and ongoing fears

Final Reflections

This episode exposes the chilling reality behind a case where love devolved into catastrophic betrayal and violence, a testament to the complexities of intimate partner abuse and the justice system’s limits. Monica Olson’s determination to reclaim her story—and her survival—stands out as a source of hope and learning, even as unresolved questions and fears persist following Dino Guglielmelli’s parole.

For listeners seeking a harrowing, multifaceted exploration of true crime, control, and resilience, this "48 Hours" episode delivers a riveting tale that lingers long after the final word.