The Murder of Cameraman Bob Samuels

*If you'd like to skip our banter in the beginning, fast forward about 8 minutes. In 1988 Bob Samuels was busy working as a camera assistant on "Lethal Weapon 2," the latest in a long string of films for the 40-year-old. He seemingly had everything he'd ever wanted - the woman of his dreams, an adopted daughter, and a career in the film industry. But when he was found murdered in his home in December of '88, detectives were stumped. With everyone in his life describing what a generous, hard-working guy Bob was, it begged the question: who on earth would want to hurt him?   Episode Sources: People v. Samuels, Supreme Court of California, June 27, 2005 “‘Green Widow’ Convicted in Deaths of Husband, Hit Man” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 2, 1994 “‘Green Widow’ Masterminded Hits on Estranged Husband and His Killer, Took Nude Photo Covered in Insurance Money” by Joe Dziemianowicz, Oxygen True Crime, Nov 10, 2023 “Murder Defendant’s Daughter Says Her Stepfather Raped and Beat Her” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, May 6, 1994 “Wife Faces Charges of Hiring Assassins—Twice” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Mar 21, 1994 “Attorney Pleads for Life of Woman Who Planned 2 Murders” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 15, 1994 “Strange Case of Mary Ellen Samuels Unfolds” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Apr 12, 1994 “The Real Murders of Los Angeles: S1 E6 - Dark Side of the Lens” Oxygen True Crime, Nov 10, 2023 “The Prosecutors: In Pursuit of Justice - S1 E6 - Green Widow” New Dominion Pictures, Oct 30, 2000 “Judge Sentences Samuels to Death” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Sep 17, 1994 “Man Fatally Shoots Girlfriend, Self” by Timothy Williams, LA Times, July 23, 1993 “Naive or Deadly--2 Images of Wife to Dominate Trial” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Mar 7, 1994 “Murder Trial Tells Tales Seedy and Bizarre” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, Apr 19, 1994 “Jury Urges Execution of Woman” by Ann W. O’Neill, LA Times, July 22, 1994   Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/horrorwoodpodcast   Follow us! IG, FB, FB Group, Twitter, TikTok   Send us an email: horrorwoodpodcast@gmail.com   Creeptastic theme music by: Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio