CA v. Monica Sementilli: Celebrity Stylist Murder Trial

Fabio was discovered stabbed to death at their Woodland Hills home on Jan. 23, 2017. It was at first thought to be a home-invasion burglary gone awry, reported the Los Angeles Times. Monica and Baker were jailed 6 months later on after detectives revealed their affair. DNA proof at the criminal offense scene likewise linked Baker to the murder.

Last July, Baker pleaded no contest to the charges versus him. He accepted a sentence of life in jail without parole. Months later on, Baker informed “48 Hours” that Monica had absolutely nothing to do with Fabio’s death.

In Oct., a 3rd individual was apprehended in the murder plot. Christopher Austin was extradited from Washington State on charges of murder and conspiracy to dedicate murder. Ahead of jury choice in Monica’s trial district attorneys revealed, “Austin pled guilty to second-degree murder and the individual usage of a knife in exchange for his genuine testament versus the accused.” Austin deals with 16 years to life in jail at his sentencing set up for April 30.

Monica, through her lawyers, preserves her claim that she had no part in Fabio’s death.

DAY-TO-DAY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 11– 2/10/25

• A forensic accounting professional affirmed that Fabio Sementilli did not have a will at the time of his death, and his other half, Monica Sementilli, would get over $2 million dollars in marital properties.
  • VIEW: Sementilli Money: Witness Explains Divorce Scenario vs. Death Scenario
• Monica Sementilli informed her household after Fabio’s death that she wished to vacate the Woodland Hills home.
  • VIEW: Fabio Sementilli’s Sister Recalls Meeting Brother’s Wife’s Lover

DAY 10– 2/7/25

• Monica Sementilli “never ever acquired an irreversible resting location” for her hubby’s cremated remains, Mirella Sementilli, Fabio Sementilli’s sis, informed the jury.
  • SEE: Fabio Sementilli’s Sister: No One In Our Family Had Ever Been Cremated
• Monica Sementilli declined a deal to have security at the home following the death of her partner. She stated that they [she and her two daughters] were not terrified, commenting they would count on “Sementilli power.”
• On a number of events, Monica Sementilli presumably informed relative that she “did not desire anymore visitors” or “wanted individuals would leave her alone” following Fabio’s death.
• Mirella Sementilli stated friends and family collected at her sibling’s home following a wake 3 days after this murder. A visitor, Deborah Obad, informed Mirella she required “assist to get [the person] out” of the home. That visitor ended up being Robert Baker.
• A household good friend helped Monica Sementilli with preparing a letter to send out to the Los Angeles Police Department and the insurance provider to accelerate Fabio’s insurance coverage claim.
• On interrogation, Jake Gibson, a digital forensic detective, stated that the screenshot of Detective Gene Parshall’s e-mail that he was preparing a letter to launch the insurance coverage funds was sent out to among Monica’s buddies and not her enthusiast, Robert Baker.

DAY 9– 2/6/25

• James Duggan, Chief Security Officer for Coty affirmed that Monica Sementilli asked him for aid with life insurance coverage cash.
  • ENJOY: Monica Sementilli Immediately and Only Asked About Life Insurance Money
• Jake Gibson, digital forensic detective for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, affirmed to digital proof connecting Monica Sementilli to Robert Baker, consisting of an e-mail chain with directions on how to access the home security DVR at the Sementilli’s home.
  • Gibson affirmed that there were naked images and videos on an SD card in a deleted state.
  • Amongst the searches in Monica Sementilli’s web history was one for “Do the cops deserves to tap my mobile phone”

DAY 8– 2/5/25

• Monica Sementilli sent insurance coverage claim types through Fabio Sementilli’s business’s policy. The payment to the kids was processed after Monica’s arrest for the death of her partner.
• Interaction in between Monica Sementilli and Coty’s Human Resources Director, Henry Meyer, started happily however then “increase,” with Monica implicating Meyer of “overlooking” her or “being too sluggish” in processing the insurance coverage claim.
• Fabio Sementilli’s colleague, Sally Schoen, explained being “gone crazy” while checking out the Sementilli home. Monica Sementilli and her children demanded revealing her the yard of the home, that made her unpleasant.
  • SEE: Victim’s Co-Worker Says She Never Saw Defendant Crying at Memorial

DAY 7– 2/4/25

• Fabio Sementilli’s earliest boy, Luigi Sementilli, took the stand
• Luigi Sementilli, who remained in grad school at the time of his dad’s death, stated his more youthful sibling, Gessica called him “going nuts,” stating, “Someone eliminated daddy.”
• Monica Sementilli supposedly informed Luigi on the night of the murder, “not to stress, due to the fact that a ‘significant’ life insurance coverage policy cash is concerning you.”
  • VIEW: Fabio Sementilli’s Son: Monica Was Immediately Focused on Money
  • VIEW: Fabio Sementilli’s Son Recalls Getting Large, Unexpected Inheritance
• Luigi Sementilli informed jurors about keeping in mind when he was 8 or 9 years of ages, his daddy, Fabio, and his stepmother, Monica, presumably had arguments about adulterous affairs. He blames Monica
• Sementilli for ruining his household, which resulted in his dad separating his mom.
• When investigators gotten in touch with Luigi about his dad’s death, he stated he was “surprised” however not in “shock.”
• Fabio Sementilli’s last call was to his manager, Salvatore Mauceri, CEO of Wella/ Coty. After leaving a voicemail for Mauceri, he then sent out a text to Mauceri minutes before he passed away.
• Mauceri informed jurors he remained in a conference when Fabio called him. He then started getting telephone call through Facebook inquiring about Fabio’s health and wellbeing, and one caller informing Mauceri that “Fabio was dead.”
  • SEE: Boss Thought it Was a Sick Joke When He Heard Fabio Sementilli Died

DAY 6– 2/3/25

• Jurors heard more taped telephone call in between Monica Sementilli and Detective Gene Parshallfollowing the death of her other half. Monica pushed investigators for info and any leads in the event and screening of proof.
• On interrogation, Detective Ryan Verna, LAPD, was questioned why the choice was made not to apprehend Robert Baker following the screening of DNA proof. Monica Sementilli was not a suspect at the time, Verna stated, “It was not up until later on that he [and his partner Detective Gene Parshall] had an ‘idea’ that there was something more” describing Sementilli and Robert Baker’s participation.
• Investigator Verna stated that it took the criminals 7 minutes to dedicate the harsh attack and phase the home before leaving the Sementilli home. Phone records suggest that Fabio called somebody at work at 4:46 p.m., and his taken Porsche was seen leaving the location around 4:53 p.m. Fabio Sementilli’s child, Isabella, got back one minute later on.
• Matt Nurse, Monica Sementilli’s individual fitness instructor, informed jurors that Monica stated “she was dissatisfied” and believed her hubby was cheating on her. When he asked why she would not get a divorce, she reacted, “Why discard 20 years,” Monica Sementilli stated.
  • VIEW: Monica Sementilli’s Former Personal Trainer Takes the Stand
• Monica Sementilli texted her pal and racquetball league member, Elyse Bleuel, following the death of her spouse. Sementilli composed in a text that she required Bleuel to come over since she “required her.” A month after Fabio’s death, she never ever spoke with Monica once again.
• SEE: ‘She Was Really Worried About Money’: Monica Sementilli’s Friends Testify

DAY 5– 1/31/25

• The jury heard a number of audio recordings, consisting of Monica Sementilli’s very first interview with cops on the day of the murder and numerous call that she made to investigators to see if there were updates in the event.
• Investigators Ryan Verna and Gene Parshall had the ability to assemble a timeline for the day of the murder utilizing monitoring video from a community security electronic camera.
  • SEE: Detective: Why Would Burglars Leave $8K Rolex on Dead Man’s Wrist?
• Monica Sementilli informed detectives that she might not remember her racquetball coach’s surname and just understood his name was “Rob.”
• Monica Sementilli called Detective Gene Parshall many times, to request for updates on the case. She requested for updates on the case, DNA proof, and a quote “of when the insurance plan cash might be launched.”

DAY 4– 1/30/25

• District attorneys provided criminal offense scene pictures of the Sementilli home and proof resulting in the arrest of Monica Sementilli, partner of the victim Fabio Sementilli, her fan, Robert Louis Baker, and Christopher Austin.
• Jurors heard statement from very first responders and among the lead detectives.
• Investigator Ryan Verna informed jurors that Robert Baker ended up being a suspect in the event on February 14, 2017, after a DNA results exposed that Baker was at the criminal offense scene.
• On interrogation, Detective Verna stated, “I was not examining an affair,” when questioned if the relationship in between Monica Sementilli and Robert Baker.
• Officer Gabriel Rebolledo, the very first officer to show up on scene, stated that a person of Fabio’s children, Isabella, informed him that “she felt guilty she had actually gotten her brand-new automobile taken,” and believed that led individuals accountable for the theft to her home.
• The Sementilli’s house cleaner, Delia Riviera Pacheco, affirmed and informed jurors what she observed on the day of the murder in January 2017. The home was completely cleaned up and absolutely nothing ran out location when she left the home simply after 2 in the afternoon.

DAY 3– 1/29/25

• Beth Silverman, Assistant District Attorney, informed jurors that Monica Sementilli had 2 various faces. One she provided to friends and family and the one that reveals the “unfaithful, lying, manipulator that she really is.”
  • VIEW: Celebrity Stylist Murder Trial: Prosecution Opening Statements
• “This is not a case where Monica Sementilli went trying to find Robert Baker … this is a case where Robert Baker was trying to find Monica Sementilli,” Blair Berk, defense lawyer, informed jurors. The defense means to reveal that it was Baker was the sole “mastermind” in the death of Fabio Sementilli.
  • ENJOY: Celebrity Stylist Murder Trial: Defense Opening Statement
  • Defense lawyer Blair Berk informed jurors the intention might not have actually had to do with insurance coverage cash since Monica Sementilli was not the sole benefactor on a life insurance coverage policy her other half bought and one through his company. Fabio Sementilli selected to have his kids as the benefactors.
• The state called their very first witness, Daryl Yoshihashi, Los Angeles Fire Department Firefighter and Paramedic, who reacted to the Sementilli home after a homeowner of the home, Isabella Sementilli, called 911 to report the ruthless attack on Fabio Sementilli.
  • VIEW: Court Hears Sementilli Teen Daughter’s Gut-Wrenching 911 Call
• On the day that Monica Sementilli and Robert Baker’s arrest, the 2 were together in Monica’s new black Mustang GT. Baker was driving. Authorities positioned them in the back of a police car, together, and a video recording recorded them talking, often whispering. At one point Monica supposedly informs Baker, “Deny whatever and do not talk.”
• Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery and Homicide system carried out monitoring of Monica Sementilli and Robert Baker following Fabio’s death. The 2 were seen together at bars, funny club, and journeys to Las Vegas.

DAY 2– 1/28/25

• Trial procedures were delayed on Tuesday due to among the district attorneys associated with a car mishap on the highway.
  • VIEW: Celebrity Stylist Murder Trial: Trial Delayed by Traffic Accident
• The state will continue its opening declarations on Wednesday early morning.

DAY 1– 1/24/25

• District attorney Beth Silverman provides the State’s open.
  • Informs the jury that mobile phone information reveals that Baker was so close that he linked to the Sementillis WIFI.
  • States the offender liked purchasing shoes and entering journeys, originated from a Catholic Italian household and divorce was not a choice.
  • States the offender likewise required cash and understood that is she separated Fabio, she would lose all her things and have no cash … if she brought Baker to the household they would never ever forgive her …
  • States the only choice was murder.
  • Informs the jury that Christopher Austin– who was likewise detained in the murder plot and pled guilty to second-degree murder and the individual usage of a knife in exchange for honest statement versus the offender– mentioned that the accused prepared the murder in order to gather insurance coverage cash.
• VIEW: ‘Lust, Greed, Betrayal’: Prosecution’s Case Against Monica Sementilli