Monica Sementilli says she did not help plan the murder of her L.A. beauty exec husband. Will a jury believe her?

This story beforehand aired on March 9, 20204. It was up to date on July 5, 2025.

In 2017, Monica Sementilli had an enviable life — an expensive home with a pool and a Porsche within the driveway — in a fancy space of Los Angeles.

However after spending virtually eight years behind bars ready via authorized delays and COVID, in January 2025, Monica Sementilli went on trial for the homicide of her husband — movie star hairdresser and wonder government Fabio Sementilli.

As “48 Hours” contributor Michelle Miller reviews, it is a tangled story. Her defenders say Monica Sementilli is an harmless sufferer. However should you imagine prosecutors, she’s a felony. Authorities describe a case of lust, greed, and homicide. Whichever it’s, the drama unfolded on Jan. 23, 2017.

Elyse Bleuel: There have been hearth vehicles exterior of her home…and I used to be like, oh gosh … there was no police but. It was simply the primary responders.

Elyse Bleuel was a pal of Monica Simental’s. “48 Hours” spoke together with her in 2018. She says Monica texted her to return over the night time Fabio was killed.

Elyse Bleuel: it was her and her daughters … She simply saved saying that “he is gone, that I am not a spouse anymore” … I simply held her. I simply held her.

Elyse Bleuel: It was so painful, simply the weeping…the not having the ability to breathe…she was past devastated… past devastated.

Monica’s husband, Fabio, was slumped over his chair by the pool.

Michelle Miller: Had you seen the physique? Had you seen?

Elyse Bleuel: Did not …

Elyse Bleuel: I simply needed to be the absolute best consolation. …  I did not know find out how to consolation that. … she could not communicate in full sentences till just like the fourth day.

Detectives shortly discovered the sufferer, Fabio Sementilli, had been a famous person within the magnificence enterprise.

“48 Hours” spoke with those that knew him greatest in 2017. Fabio’s sister, Mirella Rota

Mirella Rota: He was a contented man. And he needed all people round him blissful.

Luigi Sementilli: One of the best ways to explain my dad, actually, is sort of a cup of espresso within the morning.

Luigi Sementilli is Fabio’s son from an earlier marriage.

Luigi Sementilli: He will get you going … he lifts your spirits … he will get you decided to cost the mountain of life.

Michelle Miller: Did your mates say, “Hey Luigi, is that your dad?”

Luigi Sementilli: Completely, yeah. It was type of a enjoyable factor, you realize. … It is onerous to keep away from him once you kind in Sementilli on Google, it is very onerous … the truth is once you kind in my title, Luigi Sementilli, the very first thing that comes up is his profile! (laughs)

Fabio and his sister Mirella started reducing hair in Toronto, Canada. 

That is the place Fabio met Monica, a buyer and make-up artist he married in 1997.

Joe Mercurio: The marriage was unimaginable.

Restauranteur Joe Mercurio grew up with Fabio. He was greatest man at Fabio’s marriage ceremony to Monica.

Joe Mercurio: We had been dancing proper to the very finish.

Mirella Rota: We noticed their relationship as a love story.

Fabio was additionally in love together with his profession — he and his sister Mirella had been getting well-known.

In 2008, Fabio was promoted to an government job on the magnificence big Wella and moved his household to L.A. Pete Castellano was Fabio’s colleague.

Pete Castellano: What occurred was was the chance … to actually enable the issues that he needed for his household to return to life by taking up an even bigger position.

He and Monica settled right into a life most of us can solely dream about.

Michelle Miller: He drove a Porsche.

Mirella Rota: Yeah.

Michelle Miller: What man does not need a Porsche in Los Angeles?

Mirella Rota: You are completely proper.

They had been residing the life and elevating their two teenage daughters, Gessica and Isabella.

FABIO SEMENTILLI (video): My circle of relatives unit is essentially the most most expensive to me.

Then got here that January day. It was late afternoon as he sat by the pool. Fabio was stabbed to demise. His then-16-year-old daughter Isabella found his physique.

To investigators, the Sementilli case began out a thriller. However from early on, they’d at the very least one intriguing clue.

From a neighbor’s safety digital camera, they may see two figures in hoodies operating near the Sementilli’s home on the time of the homicide. A short time later, Fabio’s Porsche was being pushed away. Again then, Investigators did not suspect Monica had something to do with Fabio’s demise.  She wasn’t even house on the time he was killed. As a substitute, they checked out these two hooded figures.

On the time of Fabio’s homicide in 2017, L.A was plagued with break-ins from infamous groups of criminals.

Michelle Miller (watching video of a knock-knock housebreaking): What do you name these guys? 

Det. William Dunn: Nicely, we name them the knock-knock burglars. 

Michelle Miller: So, that is LAPD footage?

Det. William Dunn: Yeah. They know what they’re doing, they usually know what they need.

Michelle Miller:  I imply… they’re operating wild!

They had been hitting houses of celebrities throughout Los Angeles.

CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE LEADS TO A SUSPECT

It was 2017, and, for years, the houses of L.A. celebrities had been focused.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: No less than seven celebrities had lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}’ price of bijou taken.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: Excessive-profile victims embody $300,000 from former Lakers star Derek Fisher, $175,000 for Nikki Minaj…and $2 million from Alanis Morrissette’s Brentwood house.

Det. William Dunn | LAPD (watching surveillance video of a knock-knock housebreaking): They’re shifting simply as fast as they will. 

Det. William Dunn: Out and in in about three minutes … they ransack a bed room, discover some jewellery and get out.

William Dunn, a Los Angeles Police Division detective on the time, had hours of videotape of the knock-knock burglars in motion throughout rich Los Angeles neighborhoods, together with one from a house only a few miles from Fabio’s, months after his homicide.

Michelle Miller (watching surveillance video of a knock-knock housebreaking): They appear to know what to search for.

Det. William Dunn: Proper, they’re on the lookout for jewellery. They’re on the lookout for money.

Michelle Miller: Have a look at him!

Det. William Dunn: Yeah, see he is checking garments, he is feelin the garments to see if anyone’s put jewellery or money in among the pockets.

Det. William Dunn: See? Now he is seeing that secure.

Michelle Miller: Ah!

Det. William Dunn: See, and now he will get – he tells his buddy. Hey, take a look at what we have discovered. Now take a look at what number of seconds, and this can be a actual heavy secure. … however they’re very decided … they put numerous effort into it and it is so heavy he cannot – he cannot raise the factor. However take a look at how he is simply gonna slide that factor out.

Michelle Miller: So that they acquired the secure, that is pay dust, and off they go.

Det. William Dunn: They’re gone. Yup! You see? They’re gone.

To detectives, these two hooded figures recorded on a neighbor’s surveillance digital camera close to Fabio’s home proper across the time of his homicide seemed loads just like the knock-knock burglars.

And the Sementilli house had its personal cameras. Detectives hoped they might discover much more video of these hooded figures on these tapes.

There have been 4 cameras exterior the Sementilli home, however when police got here to search for the video, it was gone! A DVR was within the storage, it saved all of the surveillance. Whoever broke in will need to have taken it. 

Unusually, in addition to taking Fabio’s Porsche, that black field was one of many solely issues stolen from the home, say investigators. Monica advised them she thought some cheap jewellery and $11,000 in money was probably lacking, however she wasn’t certain. Detectives say the house secure hadn’t been touched. 

Luigi Sementilli: The one factor I assumed that was uncommon was why did not they take extra?  Why did not they take his watch?

The suspected burglars left behind an $8,000 Rolex on Fabio’s wrist.

However inside months, the knock-knock burglars started to fade as police suspects as a result of the police had been hanging on to an enormous secret. No person besides investigators knew it on the time, however they found blood on the crime scene that didn’t belong to Fabio Sementilli. That meant detectives had DNA to work with. DNA that finally led to a suspect.

Capt. William Hayes | LAPD: We had been in a position to develop forensic proof … a few of that was DNA, which recognized Robert Baker.

Robert Baker had been a racquetball league director at a Los Angeles fitness center, not removed from Fabio’s home. And Monica’s pal, Elyse Bleuel, knew him. “48 Hours” spoke to her about him in 2018.

Michelle Miller: How would you describe Rob Baker?

Elyse Bleuel: He was cool. All of us actually favored him.

Elyse Bleuel: He was a type of fitness center guys — you realize, grrr!

Bleuel performed in his league.

Elyse Bleuel: He was very alpha. He was a really alpha male. There was additionally type of a sexual-ly factor about him.

Michelle Miller: There was one thing sexual about him. What do you imply?

Elyse Bleuel: You know the way some guys simply have simply have this sexual type of, I do not know, he was very manly … he was in form, and he was type of, you realize, saved every part — he was in cost.

He was additionally twisted up within the porn trade, even doing a little performing.

Bleuel did not know a lot about Baker’s background, however she did hear about his film profession from a pal who occurred to identify him in an grownup movie.

Elyse Bleuel: That is just like the type of gossip that … you simply want to inform somebody.

Michelle Miller: Who did you inform?

Elyse Bleuel: I advised Monica.

Monica was additionally in Robert Baker’s racquetball league.

Michelle Miller: What was her response?

Elyse Bleuel: Nicely, it was fairly anticlimactic, I am going to inform ya.

Michelle Miller: Actually?

Elyse Bleuel: Yeah. ‘trigger a lotta occasions after we would have lady discuss she’d get somewhat prude-y.  Like somewhat prude.

What Bleuel did not know was that Baker was additionally a registered intercourse offender.

Capt. William Hayes: Robert Baker has a 1993 conviction out of a Lengthy Seaside case. It is for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.

Police say Baker served time for that offense towards a teenage lady.

For months, police watched Baker they usually found two issues. First, he was positively not one of many knock-knock burglars, and second, he made 1000’s of calls and texts to of all individuals, Monica Sementilli.

In reality, simply days after Fabio’s demise, Monica held a wake in her yard and Baker truly confirmed up.

Michelle Miller: You probably did meet him?

Mirella Rota: I did.

Rota says she noticed Monica hanging out with Baker.

Mirella Rota: I noticed her again … exterior once more, with a drink, smoking, and speaking to this man. … I discovered that that was his title, Rob. And he or she launched me to him.

Luigi observed him, too.

Luigi Sementilli: Robert and Monica had been within the nook speaking to one another, form of away from the social gathering.

And there was one thing else Luigi observed about Baker.

Luigi Sementilli: He had bandages on his fingers.

One visitor even snapped photos of Monica and Robert Baker collectively. If you happen to look carefully, you may simply make out a bandage on Baker’s finger. Police would later conclude Baker reduce that finger when he killed Fabio. And that is how his blood was on the scene.

Detectives visited Monica at house utilizing what they known as a “ruse” — telling her they had been investigating the knock-knock burglars, when the truth is they had been investigating her and secretly following Monica and Baker. And in line with authorities, it paid off. They are saying they discovered proof that Monica and Baker had been having an affair and conspired to kill Fabio.

JUSTIN EISENBERG | LAPD Chief of Detectives [to reporters in June 2017]: Over the previous a number of months, investigators have developed data and recognized Robert Baker, 55 years outdated of Canoga Park and Monica Sementilli, 45 years outdated, of Woodland Hills, who’s the spouse of our murder sufferer, as accountable for his homicide.

Mirella Rota: He stated, “We arrested Monica for the murder of your brother, and Robert Baker for the homicide of your brother.” And I used to be in shock. I am like, “They’re — you certain?” You recognize? I — I used to be in shock.

Mary Fulginiti: In keeping with the prosecution … these two had been plotting and planning to kill Fabio so they may dwell their life collectively.

Mary Fulginiti is a former federal prosecutor and a “48 Hours” advisor.

Mary Fulginiti: It was a really sophisticated investigation.

As authorities hustled Robert Baker and Monica Sementilli into court docket, they every pleaded “not responsible.” However virtually six years later, Baker modified every part.

Mary Fulginiti:  When he got here to court docket that day, individuals had been surprised.   

ROBERT BAKER PLEADS NO CONTEST TO MURDER OF FABIO SEMENTILLI

Monica Sementilli was being accused of dishonest on Fabio with that racquetball coach Robert Baker after which—together with Baker— planning Fabio’s homicide.

Elyse Bleuel: My immediate and thorough and full response was there is no effing means … I used to be there. She was decimated. 

After months of crying and grieving alongside Monica, Fabio’s household could not imagine it both.

Mirella Rota: Twenty-some years of my life she was like a sister. She was a cool aunt to my youngsters … she was loveable … my entire household felt that means about her (crying).

Then, in 2023, Baker skipped trial altogether and pleaded no contest.

Mary Fulginiti:  Robert Baker pleads no contest.  And that is in essence accepting accountability for the homicide. He is finally sentenced to life with out parole.

JUDGE RONALD COEN (in court docket): The utmost sentence on this case is life imprisonment with out the potential for parole plus one 12 months. … You perceive this?

ROBERT BAKER: Sure, sir.

However whereas Baker was accepting accountability for Fabio’s demise, Monica wasn’t.

MIRELLA ROTA (in court docket) : What he and Monica did to my brother, Fabio, is unforgivable.

However Monica’s personal daughters, Isabella and Gessica, supported their mother.

GESSICA SEMENTILLI (in court docket): We’ll proceed to face by our mom as we’ve got executed for the final six years, and we’ll struggle for her innocence.

As Monica ready to go to trial, her protection legal professional Leonard Levine made a press release.

LEONARD LEVINE: We’re assured that Robert Baker’s responsible pleas and his truthful testimony will lastly set up as soon as and for all that Monica Sementilli had nothing to do with the planning or the homicide of Fabio Sementilli, her husband.

Monica’s protection crew wasn’t answering questions earlier than trial, so “48 Hours” requested New York-based protection legal professional Julie Rendelman to assessment Monica’s protection crew’s pre-trial motions.

Julie Rendelman: The prosecution is so targeted on the affair and needs, probably a jury to say, as a result of she had an affair, as a result of she lied about an affair that you may take the leap to say that she conspired to kill her husband.

She says Monica’s relationship with Baker does not show something.

However the prosecution says the affair is vital to establishing a conspiracy between Monica and Robert Baker — an alleged conspiracy detectives spent months monitoring.

Michelle Miller: How lengthy was that investigation?

Mary Fulginiti: 5 months. 5 to 6 months.

Whereas the DA additionally declined an interview earlier than going to trial, former prosecutor Mary Fulginiti reviewed the case towards Monica.

Michelle Miller (exterior the Sementilli’s house): So, that is the scene of the crime?

Mary Fulginiti: Yeah … You recognize, that is the place the 2 joggers, you realize, got here in line with the video from a neighbor, uh, operating up right here towards the home.

Prosecutors say that first hooded determine — within the inexperienced sweatshirt— is Robert Baker.  The second man was finally recognized as Christopher Austin – an in depth pal of Baker’s. 

Michelle Miller: What does this indictment say about Monica Sementilli?

Mary Fulginiti: This indictment is a really detailed define and timeline of the plot to kill Fabio Sementilli.

Mary Fulginiti: Motive right here is easy. I imply, that is love and cash. This is among the oldest crimes within the guide the place, you realize, two lovers desperately eager to be collectively, they usually attempt to do away with one of many spouses to allow them to be collectively for what? For monetary profit. … And that will imply the three quarters of 1,000,000 life insurance coverage coverage, the home, 401ks.

Police say the plan was to stage the scene to make it seem like the work of the knock-knock burglars and throw police off their path. And so they imagine Monica was deeply concerned.

Mary Fulginiti: They imagine … she was the one which coordinated every part, the one which confirmed him, you realize, the place the home was, the place the DVR was, in order that he knew the place to go to tear it out of the partitions. The right way to get into the home.

And that is not all. The prosecutor says six months earlier than the homicide, Monica forwarded an e mail sharing particulars of her house safety system with Baker.

Mary Fulginiti: She offered the password, the username, the log in credentials, in addition to the person handbook to Robert Baker, the identical day that she acquired it from the surveillance firm.

After which there’s the day of the homicide. Prosecutors say Monica’s habits that day is a key factor of her position within the conspiracy to kill Fabio. In keeping with prosecutors, surveillance video exhibits Monica left house at 3:26 p.m. driving the household’s black Ford F-150 pickup.

Michelle Miller (standing in a Goal parking zone): That is the place she got here, in line with prosecutors, to ascertain her alibi?

Mary Fulginiti: So, loads occurs on this parking zone. … she pulls in right here in her Ford-150 pickup truck proper in entrance of this retailer … stops for only a few minutes.

Prosecutors say they’ve video the place it seems a person will get into Monica’s truck. They are saying that particular person was Robert Baker. Monica then goes alone into the Goal retailer and begins purchasing. However as she leaves, prosecutors say this surveillance picture exhibits her fixated on her cellphone.

They’d inform a grand jury it seems she was streaming video from her house — numerous it.

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST MONICA SEMENTILLI  

So what was Monica Sementilli watching on her cellphone that afternoon at in regards to the time her husband was being murdered?

Mary Fulginiti. The cellphone information and knowledge present that she’s connecting to a singular IP tackle. … It occurs to be the IP tackle of the home. And there is a considerable amount of knowledge that is being consumed. And that giant quantity of knowledge is in step with video streaming, i.e, the surveillance video of the home.

Surveillance video? In keeping with the DA, it might need been video from her house safety cameras.

However may Monica have been watching the precise homicide?

Mary Fulginiti: No… The surveillance cameras in the home are — are going through exterior, however they don’t seem to be going through within the pool space, which was the place Fabio was positioned on the time. So, they did not truly seize the homicide, however they might seize clearly who was coming and going.

Monica may have been watching every part else, prosecutors say.

Mary Fulginiti (with Miller within the Goal parking zone): They will argue … she’s watching the scene, the scene of the crime to see the comings and goings of when Baker and the confederate are going into the home, when are they leaving the home in order that she is aware of when she will be able to depart right here and go house.

Prosecutors say whereas she is watching the feed, Baker and his confederate had been on the Sementilli property stalking Fabio.

Mary Fulginiti: In keeping with the prosecution, “it was a really focused assault that was executed with the intent to kill.” In addition they go on to say that “he was stabbed within the neck, it reduce his jugular vein, reduce the carotid artery.”

And there is extra proof of the plot to kill Fabio. Prosecutors say Baker was planning a future with Monica.

Mary Fulginiti: The DA says that about two months earlier than the homicide, Baker advised a pal that he had been courting this girl for a few 12 months, and that he despatched an image of that girl, and that girl was Monica.

Mary Fulginiti: After which two months later Fabio was killed.

Authorities additionally say Monica’s habits after the homicide is suspect. She did not transfer her teenage daughters out of the home or have her safety system repaired.

Mary Fulginiti: And the prosecutors argued that the explanation why she had no concern, as a result of she knew who the killer was, and he or she was with him.

Mary Fulginiti: This can be a girl who’s pretending to be a grieving widow and making all these posts on social media.

Mary Fulginiti: Who on the identical time is carrying on a torrid love affair with the person who truly killed her husband.

Prosecutors made express images public in court docket filings. Some we will not present you. They are saying its proof the secretive romance continued after Fabio’s demise.

Mary Fulginiti: I imply, that is a double life. … The D.A. offered {a photograph} of Monica and — and Baker to the grand jury. And it was {a photograph} of Monica truly grabbing his crotch. … And this was one, uh, that was taken in Vegas.

Michelle Miller: There was additionally this — this picture of a mirror.

Mary Fulginiti: Proper. … it was a photograph of the again of Monica … with Mrs. Baker, uh, written lipstick on the mirror.

Michelle Miller: The … lipstick and the mirror … What — what does that inform them?

Mary Fulginiti: Once more, this all goes to motive. I imply, Mrs. Baker … she needed to be Mrs. Baker.

However when detectives requested Monica about Robert Baker, prosecutors say she advised them she wasn’t even certain of his final title. They are saying she additionally advised them she wasn’t certain find out how to work the house safety cameras.

Mary Fulginiti: To cite the prosecution right here, they are saying, “She’s a liar, she’s a manipulator, she’s a cheater. And every part that comes out of her mouth needs to be taken with a big grain of salt massive sufficient in order that you may choke on it.”

Mary Fulginiti: If they will present that Monica lied about her way of life, in regards to the affair, about a wide range of different issues, that they’re going to persuade the jury that she’s additionally mendacity about her involvement on this conspiracy to kill Fabio.

And so they say when she was later confronted about why Baker’s blood was present in her home, she continued to lie.

Mary Fulginiti: She comes up with some cockamamie story about, you realize, enjoying racquetball with Baker and hitting him within the finger and that it was bleeding and there was a bloody towel and he or she needed to convey it house and — and that is why his blood was on the home.

However Fulginiti says one of many largest items of proof towards Monica is what occurred when police got here up with a plan to secretly file the couple. It started after they pulled them over as they had been driving.

Mary Fulginiti: It is a ruse by the police. … They are saying that they assume the automotive that they are in is stolen they usually needed to, you realize, simply test it out and you realize, in all probability is not they usually handcuff them per protocol, put them into the police automobile. However what they do not know is that automobile’s wired and that there is a van up the road with police in it listening to their each phrase. And it is at that time, Monica says, and I am gonna quote right here: “Anyone will need to have talked. Anyone is doing this to us.” After which she stated, “They will need to have one thing. They will need to have one thing.”

Mary Fulginiti: That is fairly damning proof. … as a former prosecutor that’s near an admission to being concerned on this conspiracy.

In keeping with detectives, Monica was additionally recorded telling her cellmate, “He isn’t simply my lover … he is my confidante … he is my every part.”

Detectives additionally intercepted letters Monica wrote to Baker from behind bars saying, “I am at all times amazed how we each know what the opposite is pondering. DESTINED!” And “I miss you a lot my love!”

Mary Fulginiti: Whenever you take a look at these items within the totality, it’ll put collectively a reasonably good puzzle right here. And the puzzle will paint this image that Monica conspired with Baker, that he didn’t do it alone, that they did it collectively.

However Monica’s defenders say the case towards her is flimsy, they usually say Baker did it with out her.

Julie Rendelman: Robert Baker might have killed him as a result of he needed him out of the best way. Perhaps he did it as a result of he hoped that by killing him, he would get Monica to himself. … That in and of itself doesn’t set up that Monica was in on the homicide.

DEFENDING MONICA SEMENTILLI

Monica Sementilli’s protection is adamant she had completely nothing to do with Fabio’s homicide.

Julie Rendelman: The protection’s place is that there isn’t any proof that establishes Monica Sementilli participated in conspiracy.

And if you cannot show a conspiracy, you may’t show Monica’s guilt says Rendelman.

Michelle Miller: The sheer variety of circumstances that appear to weave collectively— the parking zone assembly … the strolling into the shop and watching video that has streamed dwell from the house … the password being given to the killer … all of these issues, the sum of them, would not a jury imagine is simply an excessive amount of of a coincidence?

Julie Rendelman: Clearly, I am unable to reply for what the jury is gonna say. Um, the protection, I may promise you, goes to try to poke holes — holes in each single piece of proof you simply spoke about.

Michelle Miller: So, let’s go step-by-step … the sharing of that password for the surveillance video.

Julie Rendelman: So, there isn’t any query that she shared the password.

However Rendelman says there is no connection between sharing that password and a homicide plot.

Julie Rendelman: There’s completely no proof between the six months that she shared it and the day he was killed, that establishes there was any plan in place between them in any way to have her husband killed, not a textual content, not an e mail, not a dialog together with her greatest pal saying she’s over her relationship.

Julie Rendelman: The second concern is, there’s completely no proof that Robert Baker downloaded the app or ever even used the app.

Michelle Miller: Let’s discuss in regards to the actions within the parking zone the day of the homicide. … somebody seems to be moving into the automotive.

Julie Rendelman: Maintain a pair issues in thoughts. One is from the protection’s perspective … the video footage is so grainy that you may’t make out who if anyone is moving into Monica Sementilli’s automotive.

And what in regards to the allegation that she was watching video of the home because the homicide passed off?

Michelle Miller: As soon as she went contained in the Goal — there was a time limit the place she appeared fascinated, fixated on her cellphone.

Julie Rendelman: Nicely, I am going to let you know one factor. The prosecution does not know what she was watching on her cellphone. They can’t articulate nor will they ever have the ability to articulate what was occurring in that cellphone.

Michelle Miller: However it was being streamed from her house.

Julie Rendelman: She might be watching a present, identical to any one in all us watched your present whereas we’re strolling alongside.

Michelle Miller: The prosecution actually digs in on Monica’s character, the truth that she’s having an affair.

Julie Rendelman: Nicely, let me quote what the protection says in —with reference to that. “The prosecutor’s proof of Ms. Sementilli’s affair and particularly the sexist and lurid method by which it was offered … was irrelevant, improper and unfairly prejudicial to Ms. Sementilli.”

Julie Rendelman: They go on and say, “the sexual and romantic particulars of their affair had been merely irrelevant to the query, whether or not they conspired to homicide Fabio Sementilli.”

However then why misinform investigators — allegedly saying she was not sure of Robert Baker’s final title?

Julie Rendelman: The query turns into, why is she mendacity? Is she mendacity as a result of she dedicated a homicide or is she mendacity as a result of she has been in a tryst with somebody for fairly some time and does not need the world to know significantly, regulation enforcement? 

Prosecutors did discover it suspicious that on the night time Fabio died, Monica was already inquiring about his life insurance coverage. However Rendelman says it is not odd.

Julie Rendelman: I perceive, um, the way it may look insensitive to begin asking a few life insurance coverage coverage so quickly after. However should you’re, uh, a person that’s not financially sound, you could have two ladies at house, you could have probably a mortgage to pay, you could have payments to pay, you will be frightened in regards to the monetary safety of your loved ones.

In January 2025, Monica went on trial for the homicide of her husband.

And prosecutor Beth Silverman’s star witness? That second hooded determine within the surveillance video, Christopher Austin.  Austin reduce a deal. He pleaded responsible to the lesser cost of second-degree homicide which probably means a lighter jail sentence and, in alternate, agreed to testify in truth at Monica’s trial.  Austin advised the jury, that previous to the homicide, he knew Monica needed Fabio useless. 

CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN (in court docket): Baker advised me … she needs him gone.

On the day of Fabio’s homicide, Austin testified that it was Monica who was directing Robert Baker by way of textual content messages to kill her husband. He even defined how he and Baker acquired into the Sementilli home.

CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN (in court docket): He advised me, he stated, “She — she’s gonna depart the door unlocked.”

And he additionally stated that Monica alerted Baker to let him know Fabio was house alone. However Monica’s protection claims Austin solely introduced up Monica’s title to get that deal. And Austin admits he by no means personally spoke to Monica or heard Baker talking together with her.  Nonetheless he insisted Monica was in cost.

CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN (in court docket): … he was speaking to her by way of textual content message. … every part that occurred in sequence was after he talked to her.

However Robert Baker would inform a really completely different story.  Baker took the stand and stated it was him, not Monica, who needed Fabio useless.  Monica, he claims, had no data he deliberate to kill Fabio.

ROB BAKER (in court docket): I murdered him as a result of I needed her. … I needed her to be round me and with me extra like on a regular basis.

One other issue that might assist Monica, says Rendelman — the daughters she shared with Fabio supported their mom and testified.  

Julie Rendelman: And so, there’s an argument to be made that the jury is wanting on the daughter saying, “in the event that they imagine her in any case this, should not we?”

In closing arguments, Monica’s protection legal professional Leonard Levine would inform the jury the one factor Monica is responsible of was having an affair.

LEONARD LEVINE (in court docket): Adultery just isn’t homicide. … She was obsessed together with her household not discovering out — with anyone not discovering out … Not as a result of she was a part of the homicide, however as a result of she was having an affair.

The jury deliberated for over three days earlier than they got here to a verdict: responsible of homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide. After eight lengthy years, it was the decision Fabio’s sister Mirella was ready for.

Mirella Rota: Justice was served as we speak. It’s the most lovely day for our household. Our spirits are lifted. My brother can now relaxation in peace. And the murderers which have deceived him are precisely the place they belong as we speak. 

Christopher Austin was sentenced to 16 years-to-life for his position in Fabio Sementilli’s homicide. 

On June 23, 2025, Monica Sementilli was sentenced to life in prison with out the potential for parole.  She plans to enchantment.  

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Produced by Chuck Stevenson. Greg Fisher is the event producer. Gabriella Demirdjian and Hannah Vair are the sector producers. Michael Baluzy, Grayce Arlotta-Berner, Wini Dini and Chris Crater are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.