Police have arrested the widow of celebrity hairstylist Fabio Sementilli. She is being accused of stabbing her husband to death in their home, according to Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced that Monica Sementilli, 45, along with her extramarital boyfriend, Robert Baker, 55, were charged with capital murder on Friday, CBS News has reported.
Fabio Sementilli, 45, was found in a pool of blood on the patio of his Woodland Hills, California, home on January 23. Investigators originally believed his death was the result of a robbery. However, LAPD Robbery Homicide Capt. William Hayes said the police department now believes that his murder was part of a scheme to collect on a $1.6 million life insurance policy. He also confirmed that Monica had been conducting an illicit affair, allegedly behind her husband’s back.
“Fabio Sementilli was directly targeted in this case,” he told Los Angeles Times. “Monica Sementilli and Robert Baker were involved in an intimate relationship for a year and a half.”
The veteran hairdresser sustained stab wounds to the face, neck, and torso. Authorities have also stated that his black 2008 Porsche Carrera 911 was found miles from the Woodland Hills home, according to KTLA.
Capt. Hayes noted that on the day of the stabbing, two men were seen running up to the residence. Those men were later seen driving the stolen Porsche. A surveillance camera even caught the pair abandoning the car.
DNA collected at the crime scene and vehicle matched that of Robert Baker, Monica Sementilli’s lover. Baker’s DNA was already in the database due to a 1993 conviction for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor. He is also a registered sex offender.
Fabio served as Vice President of Education for Wella, a major German hair-care company, and was well respected in the industry.
Just days before her arrest, Monica presented a lifetime achievement award to her late husband.
#MirrorAwards 2017 Very moving tribute to honour the life of Fabio Sementilli by his sister Mirella Sementilli and his…
Posted by Canadian Hairdresser Magazine on Sunday, June 11, 2017
The couple also have two daughters together, according to CBS News.
Neighbors spoke to reporters, expressing disbelief upon hearing of Monica’s arrest.
“That is a shocker. I don’t what to say. That’s very sad,” one neighbor told KTLA . “They seemed very happy.”
A third person, who was allegedly involved in the murder, is still on the run, according to police. Additional DNA samples recovered from the scene didn’t find a match in any state or national databases.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Robert Baker and Monica Sementilli could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. They are being held in the West Valley Jail without bail.
[Featured Image: KCBS/screengrab]