Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: IT'S WAR: War, Hollywood Brat Dismembers Wife And In-laws, New Money Fight
Date: January 4, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
Host: Nancy Grace

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the shocking case of Sam Haskell IV, son of a famous Hollywood agent, who stands accused of murdering and dismembering his wife, Mailee Haskell, and her parents. As details of the grisly crime unfold, the episode explores the failings of the initial police response, the profile and background of the suspect, the family dynamics at play, and the post-murder scramble for financial control over the Haskell estate. Notably, the discussion uncovers societal critiques of wealth and privilege, the trauma inflicted on the surviving children, and psychological analyses of the killer's motives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crime Discovery & Police Response

• Timeline of Events:

  • A woman’s torso is found in a dumpster in Tarzana, LA. (01:39)
  • Construction workers hired by Sam Haskell to dispose of “bags of rocks” realize the bags contain human remains, notably a torso with a belly button. (23:20)
  • Workers attempt to report to police but are sent in circles between departments and are told to call 911 outside the station. (03:47, 02:50)
  • Delay in action means crucial evidence may have been lost.

• Critique of Police Handling:

  • Nancy Grace and guests harshly criticize the police for dismissing citizen reports and potentially losing evidence:
    • Nancy Grace: “I would totally clean house over who chose not to take a report on a bag of body parts.” (05:23)
    • Chris McDonough: “This is right out of a Hollywood horror movie.” (05:23)

• Discovery of Remains:

  • A homeless man later reports finding a torso in a dumpster, early stages of decomposition. (06:01)
  • Police then finally link the crime scene to Sam Haskell IV’s residence. (10:41)

2. Suspect Background: Hollywood Ties & Lifestyle

• Sam Haskell IV: Son of Sam Haskell III (renowned talent agent, ex-Miss America CEO, represented Dolly Parton, George Clooney, and more) (12:05).

• Lived in a $3 million home in a wealthy LA suburb, Tarzana. (14:30)

• Sam, described as a “spoiled brat,” spent his days making TikTok videos and did not achieve professional success like his father. (00:15, 13:28)

• Notable Quote – On Sam’s Social Media:

  • “Like my resume says, unhappy, bitter, resentful. Now I'm consistently never going to stop drinking.”
    — Sam Haskell IV on TikTok (13:48, 14:11)

• Neighbors’ Perspective:

  • Elle Benami, neighbor and friend, describes Sam as reclusive, rarely interacting, while Mailee was outgoing and community-involved. (16:37-17:40)

3. Family Dynamics & Victimology

• Mailee Haskell: Entrepreneur, involved parent, cared deeply for her three sons. Parents (ages 72 and 64) lived with her, helping raise the children. (17:40, 18:53)

• Relationship Observation:

  • Elle (neighbor): “They weren’t close. Never seen them affectionate... She would go on vacation with her children and her parents, he typically went on solo trips.” (19:17)

• Parent Assistance:

  • Elle: “Her parents were extremely helpful, always actively chasing after kids, cooking, and never did Sam help with parties or anything.” (21:19)

• Trauma to Surviving Children:

  • Nancy Grace: “Mae Lee's sons she raised under these horrendous conditions... they will forever have to live with the knowledge their mother was murdered, possibly when they were in the home.” (35:40)

4. Crime Scene & Methods

• Weaponry:

  • Sam reportedly kept an array of martial arts weapons in the home (samurai swords, crossbows, firearms), which made neighbors uneasy. (33:14)
  • Children would mention the weapons to Elle’s children, making other parents uncomfortable with unsupervised visits. (34:13)

• Murder & Dismemberment:

  • Forensic guest Dr. Gary Brucato distinguishes between “dismemberment” (removing large body parts for practical, usually evidence-destroying motives) and “mutilation” (damage for psychological reasons):
    • “Dismemberment … is pretty organized, done by a person trying to clean up after they've eliminated people.” (28:18)
    • On method: If a knife was used instead of a gun, the killer is more likely to be "odd" or disturbed, not legally insane. (30:41-31:09)

5. Possible Motives & Financial Fallout

• New Legal Battle:

  • Alex Dorian, purportedly Mailee’s business partner, is suing the Haskell estate for nearly $500,000, alleging a verbal agreement regarding a real estate investment. (11:38, 35:40)
  • The estate is now represented by Jody Montgomery, famous for her previous role as Britney Spears’ conservator. (34:55)

• Nancy Grace's Critique:

  • “Shouldn't this money go to their orphans? Okay, their orphans have enough to deal with. Mae Lee's sons ... they will forever have to live with the knowledge their mother was murdered…” (35:40)

6. Psychological Analysis of the Suspect

• Criminal Profile:
  • Dr. Trace Sargent: Sam Haskell IV seems to present himself as a victim, "may not take accountability or responsibility for his actions." (27:23)
  • Dr. Brucato: The crime fits common psychological profiles for domestic elimination or rage-driven murder, possibly spurred by interpersonal detachment and lack of empathy. (28:18-32:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Nancy Grace on police inaction:
  “I would totally clean house over who chose not to take a report on a bag of body parts.” (05:23)

• Construction workers’ horror:
  “When they picked up the bags, they felt like there was meat inside… they saw a belly button.” (23:20)

• Nancy on privilege and discontent:
  “He is whining that he's unhappy, bitter and resentful. He's never going to stop drinking. Thanks for sharing and complaining that the waiter… burned his filet mignon.” (14:30)

• Elle Benami on Mailee:
  “She was just a very, very sweet person. Very generous, very sweet, very caring... very dedicated to her three boys.” (17:52)

• Dr. Gary Brucato on motivations:
  “With dismemberment, we found… it's a pretty organized thing, done by a person that’s trying to clean up after they've eliminated people.” (28:18)

• Elle Benami on the weapons in the home:
  “They did mention [to my kids] about a samurai sword or where a specific firearm was kept. That made me very nervous…” (34:13)

• Dr. Brucato on knife-vs-gun offenders:
  “If a gun is used, there’s a very low likelihood … mentally ill. If something else was used, like a knife, then we start thinking that this was an individual who was unwell in some way.” (30:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------| | 00:13 | Opening and case introduction | 00:13 | | 01:39 | Discovery of torso and initial police report | 01:39 | | 02:50 | Workers report to police, are dismissed | 02:50 | | 05:23 | Critique of police inaction | 05:23 | | 10:41 | Linking torso to Haskell residence | 10:41 | | 13:48 | Sam Haskell’s TikTok audio | 13:48, 14:11 | | 16:37 | Neighbor Elle Benami’s account of the family | 16:37 | | 17:52 | Profile of Mailee Haskell | 17:52 | | 19:17 | Mailee & Sam's relationship | 19:17 | | 21:19 | Role of Mailee's parents | 21:19 | | 23:20 | Construction workers' account of body disposal | 23:20 | | 27:23 | Criminal psychological analysis | 27:23 | | 30:41 | Knife vs. gun as methods of murder | 30:41 | | 33:14 | Weapons kept in Haskell home | 33:14 | | 34:55 | Financial dispute with Alex Dorian | 34:55 | | 35:40 | Nancy Grace’s reflection on children/orphans | 35:40 |

Concluding Remarks

Nancy Grace’s hard-hitting style drives this brutal examination of a case at the intersection of privilege, wealth, and horror. Through her panel of experts and firsthand neighbor testimony, the episode not only dissects the crime itself but raises deep questions about failures in law enforcement, the psychological underpinnings of family annihilators, and the consequences for the surviving children. The show ends with unresolved questions about the estate and the financial vultures circling the tragedy, leaving listeners with a sense of outrage and sorrow for the victims’ children.

For listeners seeking a gripping true crime episode with sharp legal and psychological analysis, firsthand witness accounts, and a scathing critique of both societal privilege and systemic failures, this entry in Crime Stories with Nancy Grace is both harrowing and insightful.