Mei Li Haskell, who was tragically murdered along with her parents last November in Tarzana, Calif., may have still been alive when she was decapitated, according to an autopsy report released by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner. Mei Li's husband, Sam Haskell, has been charged with the murders of his wife and in-laws.
On Nov. 7, Sam allegedly hired day laborers to dispose of large bags containing human body parts. The laborers discovered the gruesome contents, alerted the authorities, and subsequently, Sam was seen on surveillance video discarding a bag in a nearby dumpster. The torso found in one of the bags was identified as Mei Li's.
The autopsy report on Mei Li's torso revealed a sharp force injury at the neck and indicated that her head, arms, and legs were missing. The amputation areas showed signs of being cut with a sharp powered tool, suggesting the use of such a tool in the dismemberment process. While the report did not definitively confirm whether the dismemberment occurred before or after death, it did not rule out the possibility that Mei Li was still alive when she was decapitated.
No other fatal injuries were identified on the torso, but the coroner listed blunt force trauma, gunshot wounds, sharp force trauma to the head/neck, asphyxia, or poisoning as potential mechanisms of death. The report concluded that the cause of death was homicidal violence, given the deliberate concealment of the body through dismemberment and disposal.
Sam Haskell, who pleaded not guilty to the murders, could face life in prison without parole if convicted. He is the son of Hollywood executive Sam Haskell III and has a connection to the Miss America Organization. Mei Li's parents' bodies have not been found, adding another layer of tragedy to this horrific case.
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