The California man accused of butchering his wife after a torso was discovered in a dumpster told a friend earlier this year he couldn’t handle seeing chopped-up bodies in horror movies, describing the violence as being “hard” for him to enjoy.
Samuel Haskell IV, 35, who was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of murdering his wife and her parents, sent his former personal trainer messages on Instagram discussing “The Forever Purge,” a film Haskell described as being too tough for him to stomach, according to Instagram messages obtained by TMZ.
“Forever purge was a little different fools really be getting chopped up in Mexico for real it’s hard for me to enjoy a movie about it, I’m down with purge 2 anarchy,” Haskell wrote his ex-personal trainer Troy Piedade.
Piedade, who has kept in contact with Haskell over Instagram, characterized him as being troubled — but told the outlet he never thought he would commit murder.
Haskell, the son of a powerful Hollywood exec, has been accused of chopping up his wife, Mei Haskell, in their home. He allegedly then hired day laborers to dispose of three garbage bags full of the evidence, which prosecutors say weighed about 50 pounds each.
The workers returned the bags and their $500 payment after they opened them and saw their grizzly contents — not believing his claims that they were full of rocks.
Haskell was arrested after a woman’s dismembered torso was found in a dumpster at a mall about five miles from their home.
He was charged with murdering his wife, 37, as well as her parents, mom Yanxiang Wang, 64, and dad Gaoshan Li, 72, who have been missing.
Police are still searching for the remains of Wang and Li, even as Haskell is charged with their slayings.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman had said there was evidence he had slaughtered them in their home, adding, “I don’t need a body to charge a murder.”
Friends have described Haskell as being “paranoid” prior to his arrest and said he once pulled a machete on a childhood friend, while those close to Mei described Haskell as being “weird” and having the “same creepy vibe” as Jeffrey Dahmer.
Haskell has pleaded not guilty to three special circumstances murder counts and is being held without bail.
His and Mei’s three sons, meanwhile, are in the custody of his married parents.
His Hollywood exec dad has yet to comment on the case.
