LOS ANGELES, CA – A chilling discovery in Los Angeles has led to the apprehension of a suspect. A homeless man, rummaging through a trash bin early Wednesday morning, stumbled upon a woman’s torso. The gruesome find was made near a strip mall in the city’s Encino neighborhood.
Following video evidence from the scene, detectives descended upon a home in Tarzana. Inside, they unearthed “blood evidence and other items,” according to Los Angeles Police Det. Efren Gutierrez. However, further details about the found evidence remain under wraps.
The investigation brought them to 35-year-old Samuel Haskell, who was arrested at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park. Suspected of murder, Haskell is being held on $2 million bail.
Adding a layer of mystery to the case, three people closely connected to Haskell have vanished. They include Haskell’s wife, Mei, and her parents, Gaoshan Li, 72, and YanXiang Wang, 64. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance are still unclear.
The couple’s three young children are safe and are in the care of Children and Family Services. The identity of the woman whose torso was found remains a mystery. Investigators believe the body part was likely disposed of in the last few days.
The police have appealed to the public for any information related to the case. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation unfolds.