“Sex, Knives and Videotape”: 20/20 Reports on Fabio Sementilli Homicide April 11 2025

On Friday, April 11, 2025, ABC’s “20/20” aired a two-hour special titled “Sex, Knives, and Videotape,” diving into the chilling murder of celebrity hairstylist Fabio Sementilli and the dramatic trial of his wife, Monica Sementilli. The episode, which streamed the following day on Hulu, presented an in-depth examination of the case that stunned Los Angeles and the global beauty industry.

Through exclusive interviews with Fabio’s family, prosecutors, friends, and law enforcement, the program laid bare a tale of betrayal, financial motive, and an affair that ended in bloodshed. Viewers were taken inside the courtroom and behind the headlines to understand the full scope of the murder, the investigation that followed, and the controversial verdict that concluded a long legal battle.

The Murder of a Beauty Industry Icon

Fabio Sementilli was a highly respected figure in the professional hair care world, serving as the vice president of education for Wella, part of Procter & Gamble’s salon division. Known affectionately as “Big Daddy” by friends and family, he was beloved for his charisma, mentorship, and dedication to his craft. On January 23, 2017, his life was cut short in a brutal attack at his Woodland Hills home in Los Angeles.

Fabio was alone at the house when he was stabbed repeatedly—seven wounds in total—primarily to his neck, chest, and thigh. His femoral and carotid arteries were severed. The killers left his expensive watch and staged the crime scene to look like a robbery. Police initially investigated it as a burglary by so-called “knock-knock burglars,” known for targeting affluent neighborhoods. But something didn’t add up—Fabio’s valuables were untouched, and signs of forced entry were absent.

The Investigation Turns Inward

Suspicion quickly shifted when investigators reviewed home surveillance and digital records. DNA at the crime scene led police to Robert Baker, a convicted sex offender and former adult film actor. He was also Monica Sementilli’s secret lover. The two had met at a local gym, where Baker worked as a racquetball instructor. Their affair had lasted years by the time of Fabio’s murder.

Further investigation revealed that Monica and Baker exchanged over 270 messages using an encrypted app in the two days surrounding the murder. Detectives also discovered Monica had watched the home’s security feed remotely shortly before the killing, an action prosecutors interpreted as clearing the way for Baker and his accomplice, Christopher Austin, to enter and attack Fabio. Austin later testified that Monica had left the back door open for them.

A Conspiracy Built on Greed and Desire

Prosecutors argued that Monica stood to gain $1.6 million in life insurance proceeds from Fabio’s death. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presented a narrative of calculated betrayal, claiming that Monica wanted to be with Baker and saw murder as the only path forward. The relationship between Monica and Baker intensified in the months before the murder, with the couple exchanging intimate messages even during Fabio’s funeral.

Baker and Austin both implicated Monica. Baker, however, later told jurors she had no role in planning the killing and insisted he murdered Fabio “for love.” Austin, a former probation officer, told a different story—he claimed Baker explicitly told him that Monica wanted her husband gone and that she had left the house accessible for them to enter undetected.

The Trial and Verdict

Monica Sementilli’s trial lasted more than two months. Her defense, led by Leonard Levine, acknowledged her affair but denied any role in the murder. Levine claimed that Monica’s encrypted messaging and secretive behavior were solely to conceal her adultery, not a homicide plot. He described Monica as a loving mother and wife, flawed by infidelity but not capable of murder.

Jurors, however, were not convinced. On April 11, 2025, a 10-man, two-woman jury found Monica guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They also found true the special circumstances of murder for financial gain and lying in wait. Monica sobbed as the verdict was read. She now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2025.

The Role of the Accomplices

Robert Baker entered a no contest plea in 2023, admitting to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He accepted a life sentence without the possibility of parole. During Monica’s trial, he provided conflicting testimony—on one hand denying her involvement, on the other offering no explanation for the evidence that linked her to the crime.

Christopher Austin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a separate agreement. He admitted his role as Baker’s accomplice and testified for the prosecution, helping secure Monica’s conviction. Austin is serving a 16-year prison sentence.

A Family’s Loss and Search for Closure

Fabio Sementilli’s family has been vocal and resolute throughout the legal process. His sister, Mirella Sementilli, expressed relief after the guilty verdict, calling it a day of justice and healing. His son, Luigi, keeps his father’s Rolex watch as a treasured memento, wearing it on important days to feel close to him.

For those who knew Fabio, the betrayal by someone so close—and the subsequent media frenzy—was almost as painful as the loss itself. Fabio was described as a man who inspired others and lived with passion for his work and family. His death left a void not only within his immediate circle but in the global haircare community.

Conclusion: Betrayal in the Hollywood Hills

The Monica Sementilli case has been a haunting reminder of how personal ambition and illicit desire can twist into deadly plots. Through testimonies, digital evidence, and an emotional trial, the truth of Fabio Sementilli’s murder was painstakingly unraveled. ABC’s “20/20” special provided a comprehensive and unflinching look at the people behind the headlines.

With Monica now convicted and the other perpetrators sentenced, the case concludes a years-long pursuit of justice. But for Fabio’s loved ones, the emotional aftermath will endure. The legacy of a beloved husband, father, and industry leader lives on, overshadowed by the betrayal that led to his tragic end.

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