Monica Sementilli says she didn’t lend a hand plan the homicide of her L.A. good looks exec husband. Will a jury consider her? via NewsFlicks

This tale up to now aired on March 9, 20204. It used to be up to date on July 5, 2025.

In 2017, Monica Sementilli had an enviable lifestyles — a sumptuous area with a pool and a Porsche within the driveway — in a fancy house of Los Angeles.

However after spending nearly 8 years in the back of bars ready via criminal delays and COVID, in January 2025, Monica Sementilli went on trial for the homicide of her husband — superstar hairdresser and good looks government Fabio Sementilli.

As “48 Hours” contributor Michelle Miller experiences, it is a tangled tale. Her defenders say Monica Sementilli is an blameless sufferer. However should you consider prosecutors, she’s a felony. Government describe a case of lust, greed, and homicide. Whichever it’s, the drama spread out on Jan. 23, 2017.

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

Elyse Bleuel used to be a pal of Monica Simental’s. “48 Hours” spoke along with her in 2018. She says Monica texted her to come back over the night time Fabio used to be killed.

Elyse Bleuel: it used to be her and her daughters … She simply stored pronouncing that “he is long past, that I am not a spouse anymore” … I simply held her. I simply held her.

Elyse Bleuel: It used to be so painful, simply the weeping…the now not with the ability to breathe…she used to be past devastated… past devastated.

Monica’s husband, Fabio, used to be slumped over his chair via the pool.

Michelle Miller: Had you observed the frame? Had you observed?

Elyse Bleuel: Did not …

Elyse Bleuel: I simply sought after to be the most productive imaginable convenience. …  I did not understand how to convenience that. … she could not discuss in entire sentences till just like the fourth day.

Detectives briefly discovered the sufferer, Fabio Sementilli, have been a famous person within the good looks trade.

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

Mirella Rota: He used to be a cheerful guy. And he sought after everyone round him satisfied.

Luigi Sementilli: The easiest way to explain my dad, truly, is sort of a cup of espresso within the morning.

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

Luigi Sementilli: He will get you going … he lifts your spirits … he will get you made up our minds to rate the mountain of lifestyles.

Michelle Miller: Did your pals say, “Hello Luigi, is that your dad?”

Luigi Sementilli: Completely, yeah. It used to be more or less a a laugh factor, you already know. … It is laborious to steer clear of him while you sort in Sementilli on Google, it is very laborious … actually while you sort in my identify, 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 used to be improbable.

Restauranteur Joe Mercurio grew up with Fabio. He used to be very best guy at Fabio’s wedding ceremony to Monica.

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

Mirella Rota: We noticed their courting as a love tale.

Fabio used to be additionally in love along with his profession — he and his sister Mirella have been getting well-known.

In 2008, Fabio used to be promoted to an government process on the good looks large Wella and moved his circle of relatives to L.A. Pete Castellano used to be Fabio’s colleague.

Pete Castellano: What took place used to be used to be the chance … to truly permit the issues that he sought after for his circle of relatives to come back to lifestyles via taking over a larger function.

He and Monica settled right into a lifestyles maximum folks can simplest dream about.

Michelle Miller: He drove a Porsche.

Mirella Rota: Yeah.

Michelle Miller: What guy does not desire a Porsche in Los Angeles?

Mirella Rota: You are completely proper.

They have been dwelling the lifestyles and elevating their two teenage daughters, Gessica and Isabella.

FABIO SEMENTILLI (video): My very own circle of relatives unit is probably the most most useful to me.

Then got here that January day. It used to be past due afternoon as he sat via the pool. Fabio used to be stabbed to demise. His then-16-year-old daughter Isabella came upon his frame.

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

From a neighbor’s safety digicam, they may see two figures in hoodies working with regards to the Sementilli’s area on the time of the homicide. A short while later, Fabio’s Porsche used to be being pushed away. Again then, Investigators did not suspect Monica had anything else to do with Fabio’s demise.  She wasn’t even house on the time he used to be killed. As an alternative, they checked out the ones two hooded figures.

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

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

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

Michelle Miller: So, that is LAPD pictures?

Det. William Dunn: Yeah. They know what they are doing, and so they know what they would like.

Michelle Miller:  I imply… they are working wild!

They have been hitting properties of celebrities in every single place Los Angeles.

CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE LEADS TO A SUSPECT

It used to be 2017, and, for years, the houses of L.A. celebrities have been centered.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: A minimum of seven celebrities had loads of hundreds of greenbacks’ price of knickknack taken.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: Top-profile sufferers come with $300,000 from former Lakers megastar Derek Fisher, $175,000 for Nikki Minaj…and $2 million from Alanis Morrissette’s Brentwood house.

Det. William Dunn | LAPD (observing surveillance video of a knock-knock housebreaking): They are shifting simply as fast as they may be able to. 

Det. William Dunn: Out and in in about 3 mins … they ransack a bed room, in finding 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 in every single place rich Los Angeles neighborhoods, together with one from a house only a few miles from Fabio’s, months after his homicide.

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

Det. William Dunn: Proper, they are on the lookout for jewellery. They are 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 peer if any person’s put jewellery or money in probably the most wallet.

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 good friend. Hello, take a look at what we now have discovered. Now take a look at what number of seconds, and it is a actual heavy secure. … however they are very made up our minds … they put a large number of effort into it and it is so heavy he cannot – he cannot raise the object. However take a look at how he is simply gonna slide that factor out.

Michelle Miller: So that they were given the secure, that is pay grime, and rancid they cross.

Det. William Dunn: They are long past. Yup! You spot? They are long past.

To detectives, the ones two hooded figures recorded on a neighbor’s surveillance digicam close to Fabio’s area proper across the time of his homicide seemed so much just like the knock-knock burglars.

And the Sementilli house had its personal cameras. Detectives was hoping they might in finding much more video of the ones hooded figures on the ones tapes.

There have been 4 cameras outdoor the Sementilli area, but if police got here to search for the video, it used to be long past! A DVR used to be within the storage, it saved all of the surveillance. Whoever broke in will have to have taken it. 

Unusually, but even so taking Fabio’s Porsche, that black field used to be one of the crucial simplest issues stolen from the home, say investigators. Monica instructed them she idea some reasonably priced jewellery and $11,000 in money used to be perhaps lacking, however she wasn’t positive. Detectives say the house secure hadn’t been touched. 

Luigi Sementilli: The one factor I believed that used to be atypical used to be why did not they take extra?  Why did not they take his watch?

The suspected burglars left in the back of an $8,000 Rolex on Fabio’s wrist.

However inside months, the knock-knock burglars started to vanish as police suspects for the reason that police have been striking directly to a large secret. No person excluding investigators knew it on the time, however they came upon blood on the crime scene that didn’t belong to Fabio Sementilli. That intended detectives had DNA to paintings with. DNA that at last resulted in a suspect.

Capt. William Hayes | LAPD: We have been ready to expand forensic proof … a few of that used to be DNA, which recognized Robert Baker.

Robert Baker have been a racquetball league director at a Los Angeles gymnasium, now not a ways from Fabio’s area. And Monica’s buddy, Elyse Bleuel, knew him. “48 Hours” spoke to her about him in 2018.

Michelle Miller: How would you describe Rob Baker?

Elyse Bleuel: He used to be cool. All of us truly favored him.

Elyse Bleuel: He used to be a kind of gymnasium guys — you already know, grrr!

Bleuel performed in his league.

Elyse Bleuel: He used to be very alpha. He used to be an excessively alpha male. There used to be additionally more or less a sexual-ly factor about him.

Michelle Miller: There used to be one thing sexual about him. What do you imply?

Elyse Bleuel: You know the way some guys simply have simply have this sexual more or less, I have no idea, he used to be very manly … he used to be in form, and he used to be more or less, you already know, stored the whole thing — he used to be in rate.

He used to be additionally knotted up within the porn business, even doing a little performing.

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

Elyse Bleuel: That is like the type of gossip that … you simply wish to inform any individual.

Michelle Miller: Who did you inform?

Elyse Bleuel: I instructed Monica.

Monica used to be additionally in Robert Baker’s racquetball league.

Michelle Miller: What used to be her response?

Elyse Bleuel: Smartly, it used to be lovely anticlimactic, I will inform ya.

Michelle Miller: Actually?

Elyse Bleuel: Yeah. ‘reason a lotta occasions after we would have lady communicate she’d get slightly prude-y.  Like slightly prude.

What Bleuel did not know used to be that Baker used to be additionally a registered intercourse wrongdoer.

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 in opposition to a teenage lady.

For months, police watched Baker and so they came upon two issues. First, he used to be undoubtedly now not one of the crucial knock-knock burglars, and moment, he made hundreds of calls and texts to of all folks, Monica Sementilli.

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

Michelle Miller: You probably did meet him?

Mirella Rota: I did.

Rota says she noticed Monica striking out with Baker.

Mirella Rota: I noticed her again … outdoor once more, with a drink, smoking, and chatting with this man. … I came upon that that used to be his identify, Rob. And she or he presented me to him.

Luigi spotted him, too.

Luigi Sementilli: Robert and Monica have been within the nook speaking to one another, type of clear of the birthday party.

And there used to be one thing else Luigi spotted about Baker.

Luigi Sementilli: He had bandages on his arms.

One visitor even snapped photos of Monica and Robert Baker in combination. In the event you glance carefully, you’ll simply make out a bandage on Baker’s finger. Police would later conclude Baker reduce that finger when he killed Fabio. And that is the reason how his blood used to be on the scene.

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

JUSTIN EISENBERG | LAPD Leader of Detectives [to reporters in June 2017]: During the last a number of months, investigators have advanced data and recognized Robert Baker, 55 years previous of Canoga Park and Monica Sementilli, 45 years previous, of Forest Hills, who’s the spouse of our murder sufferer, as answerable for his homicide.

Mirella Rota: He mentioned, “We arrested Monica for the homicide of your brother, and Robert Baker for the homicide of your brother.” And I used to be in surprise. I am like, “They are — you positive?” You understand? I — I used to be in surprise.

Mary Fulginiti: In step with the prosecution … those two have been plotting and making plans to kill Fabio so they may are living their lifestyles in combination.

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

Mary Fulginiti: It used to be an excessively sophisticated investigation.

As government hustled Robert Baker and Monica Sementilli into court docket, they each and every pleaded “now not to blame.” However nearly six years later, Baker modified the whole thing.

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

ROBERT BAKER PLEADS NO CONTEST TO MURDER OF FABIO SEMENTILLI

Monica Sementilli used to be being accused of dishonest on Fabio with that racquetball trainer Robert Baker after which—along side Baker— making plans Fabio’s homicide.

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

After months of crying and grieving along Monica, Fabio’s circle of relatives could not consider it both.

Mirella Rota: Twenty-some years of my lifestyles she used to be like a sister. She used to be a groovy aunt to my children … she used to be loveable … my complete circle of relatives 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 the reason in essence accepting duty for the homicide. He is in the long run sentenced to lifestyles with out parole.

JUDGE RONALD COEN (in court docket): The utmost sentence on this case is lifestyles imprisonment with out the potential for parole plus 365 days. … You realize this?

ROBERT BAKER: Sure, sir.

However whilst Baker used to be accepting duty 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 can proceed to face via our mom as now we have performed for the remaining six years, and we will be able to combat for her innocence.

As Monica ready to visit trial, her protection lawyer Leonard Levine made a remark.

LEONARD LEVINE: We’re assured that Robert Baker’s to blame pleas and his fair testimony will in spite of everything identify as soon as and for all that Monica Sementilli had not anything to do with the making plans or the homicide of Fabio Sementilli, her husband.

Monica’s protection workforce wasn’t answering questions sooner than trial, so “48 Hours” requested New York-based protection lawyer Julie Rendelman to study Monica’s protection workforce’s pre-trial motions.

Julie Rendelman: The prosecution is so targeted at the affair and needs, probably a jury to mention, as a result of she had an affair, as a result of she lied about an affair that you’ll take the bounce to mention that she conspired to kill her husband.

She says Monica’s courting with Baker does not turn out anything else.

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

Michelle Miller: How lengthy used to be that investigation?

Mary Fulginiti: 5 months. 5 to 6 months.

Whilst the DA additionally declined an interview sooner than going to trial, former prosecutor Mary Fulginiti reviewed the case in opposition to Monica.

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

Mary Fulginiti: Yeah … You understand, that is the place the 2 joggers, you already know, got here in keeping with the video from a neighbor, uh, working up right here towards the home.

Prosecutors say that first hooded determine — within the inexperienced sweatshirt— is Robert Baker.  The second one guy used to be ultimately recognized as Christopher Austin – a detailed buddy of Baker’s. 

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

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

Mary Fulginiti: Reason right here is unassuming. I imply, that is love and cash. This is among the oldest crimes within the e-book the place, you already know, two fanatics desperately in need of to be in combination, and they are trying to eliminate one of the crucial spouses so they may be able to be in combination for what? For monetary get advantages. … And that will imply the 3 quarters of one million lifestyles insurance coverage, the home, 401ks.

Police say the plan used to be to degree the scene to make it seem like the paintings of the knock-knock burglars and throw police off their path. And so they consider Monica used to be deeply concerned.

Mary Fulginiti: They consider … she used to be the person who coordinated the whole thing, the person who confirmed him, you already know, the place the home used to be, the place the DVR used to be, in order that he knew the place to visit rip it out of the partitions. get into the home.

And that is the reason now not all. The prosecutor says six months sooner than the homicide, Monica forwarded an e-mail sharing main points of her house safety gadget with Baker.

Mary Fulginiti: She supplied the password, the username, the log in credentials, in addition to the consumer handbook to Robert Baker, the similar day that she gained it from the surveillance corporate.

After which there may be the day of the homicide. Prosecutors say Monica’s conduct that day is a key part of her function within the conspiracy to kill Fabio. In step with prosecutors, surveillance video displays Monica left house at 3:26 p.m. riding the circle of relatives’s black Ford F-150 pickup.

Michelle Miller (status in a Goal automobile parking space): That is the place she got here, in keeping with prosecutors, to determine her alibi?

Mary Fulginiti: So, so much occurs on this automobile parking space. … she pulls in right here in her Ford-150 pickup truck proper in entrance of this retailer … stops for only a few mins.

Prosecutors say they’ve video the place it seems that a person will get into Monica’s truck. They are saying that individual used to be Robert Baker. Monica then is going by myself into the Goal retailer and starts buying groceries. However as she leaves, prosecutors say this surveillance photograph displays her fixated on her telephone.

They might inform a grand jury it seems that she used to be streaming video from her house — a large number of it.

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST MONICA SEMENTILLI  

So what used to be Monica Sementilli observing on her telephone that afternoon at in regards to the time her husband used to be being murdered?

Mary Fulginiti. The telephone data and knowledge display that she’s connecting to a novel IP deal with. … It occurs to be the IP deal with of the home. And there is a great amount of knowledge that is being fed on. And that giant quantity of knowledge is in line with video streaming, i.e, the surveillance video of the home.

Surveillance video? In step with the DA, it will were video from her house safety cameras.

However may Monica were observing the real homicide?

Mary Fulginiti: No… The surveillance cameras in the home are — are dealing with outdoor, however they are now not dealing with within the pool house, which used to be the place Fabio used to be situated on the time. So, they did not in fact seize the homicide, however they might seize clearly who used to be coming and going.

Monica may have been observing the whole thing else, prosecutors say.

Mary Fulginiti (with Miller within the Goal automobile parking space): They are going to argue … she’s observing the scene, the scene of the crime to peer the comings and goings of when Baker and the associate 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 cross house.

Prosecutors say whilst she is observing the feed, Baker and his associate have been at the Sementilli belongings stalking Fabio.

Mary Fulginiti: In step with the prosecution, “it used to be an excessively centered assault that used to be performed with the intent to kill.” Additionally they cross on to mention that “he used to be stabbed within the neck, it reduce his jugular vein, reduce the carotid artery.”

And there may be extra proof of the plot to kill Fabio. Prosecutors say Baker used to be making plans a long run with Monica.

Mary Fulginiti: The DA says that about two months sooner than the homicide, Baker instructed a pal that he have been relationship this lady for approximately a 12 months, and that he despatched an image of that lady, and that lady used to be Monica.

Mary Fulginiti: After which two months later Fabio used to be killed.

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

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

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

Mary Fulginiti: Who on the similar time is sporting on a torrid love affair with the person who in fact killed her husband.

Prosecutors made particular pictures public in court docket filings. Some we will be able to’t display you. They are saying its proof the secretive romance persisted after Fabio’s demise.

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

Michelle Miller: There used to be additionally this — this photograph of a reflect.

Mary Fulginiti: Proper. … it used to be a photograph of the again of Monica … with Mrs. Baker, uh, written lipstick at the reflect.

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

Mary Fulginiti: Once more, this all is going to reason. I imply, Mrs. Baker … she sought after to be Mrs. Baker.

But if detectives requested Monica about Robert Baker, prosecutors say she instructed them she wasn’t even positive of his remaining identify. They are saying she additionally instructed them she wasn’t positive the right way to paintings 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 the whole thing that comes out of her mouth needs to be all for a big grain of salt sufficiently big so to choke on it.”

Mary Fulginiti: If they may be able to display that Monica lied about her way of life, in regards to the affair, about plenty of different issues, that they are 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 used to be later faced about why Baker’s blood used to be present in her area, she persisted to lie.

Mary Fulginiti: She comes up with some cockamamie tale about, you already know, enjoying racquetball with Baker and hitting him within the finger and that it used to be bleeding and there used to be a bloody towel and he or she needed to carry it house and — and that’s the reason why his blood used to be on the area.

However Fulginiti says one of the crucial largest items of proof in opposition to Monica is what took place when police got here up with a plan to secretly report the couple. It all started once they pulled them over as they have been riding.

Mary Fulginiti: It is a ruse via the police. … They are saying that they suspect the automobile that they are in is stolen and so they sought after to, you already know, simply test it out and you already know, almost certainly is not and so they handcuff them consistent with protocol, put them into the police automobile. However what they do not know is that automobile’s stressed and that there is a van up the road with police in it taking note of their each phrase. And it is at that time, Monica says, and I am gonna quote right here: “Someone will have to have talked. Someone is doing this to us.” After which she mentioned, “They will have to have one thing. They will have to have one thing.”

Mary Fulginiti: That is lovely damning proof. … as a former prosecutor this is with regards to an admission to being concerned on this conspiracy.

In step with detectives, Monica used to be additionally recorded telling her cellmate, “He is not simply my lover … he is my confidante … he is my the whole thing.”

Detectives additionally intercepted letters Monica wrote to Baker from in the back of bars pronouncing, “I am at all times amazed how we each know what the opposite is considering. DESTINED!” And “I leave out you such a lot my love!”

Mary Fulginiti: Whilst you take a look at those items within the totality, it will put in combination a lovely easiest puzzle right here. And the puzzle will paint this image that Monica conspired with Baker, that he didn’t do it by myself, that they did it in combination.

However Monica’s defenders say the case in opposition to her is flimsy, and so they say Baker did it with out her.

Julie Rendelman: Robert Baker could have killed him as a result of he sought after him out of the way in which. Perhaps he did it as a result of he was hoping that via killing him, he would get Monica to himself. … That during and of itself does now not identify that Monica used to be in at the homicide.

DEFENDING MONICA SEMENTILLI

Monica Sementilli’s protection is adamant she had completely not anything to do with Fabio’s homicide.

Julie Rendelman: The protection’s place is that there’s no proof that establishes Monica Sementilli participated in conspiracy.

And if you’ll’t turn out a conspiracy, you’ll’t turn out Monica’s guilt says Rendelman.

Michelle Miller: The sheer selection of cases that appear to weave in combination— the automobile parking space assembly … the strolling into the shop and observing video that has streamed are living from the house … the password being given to the killer … all of the ones issues, the sum of them, would not a jury consider is simply too a lot of a twist of fate?

Julie Rendelman: Clearly, I will be able to’t resolution for what the jury is gonna say. Um, the protection, I may promise you, goes to try to poke holes — holes in each unmarried piece of proof you simply spoke about.

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

Julie Rendelman: So, there’s no query that she shared the password.

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

Julie Rendelman: There is completely no proof between the six months that she shared it and the day he used to be killed, that establishes there used to be any plan in position between them in anyway to have her husband killed, now not a textual content, now not an e-mail, now not a dialog along with her very best buddy pronouncing she’s over her courting.

Julie Rendelman: The second one factor is, there may be completely no proof that Robert Baker downloaded the app or ever even used the app.

Michelle Miller: Let’s communicate in regards to the movements within the automobile parking space the day of the homicide. … any individual seems to be coming into the automobile.

Julie Rendelman: Stay a pair issues in thoughts. One is from the protection’s point of view … the video pictures is so grainy that you’ll’t make out who if anyone is coming into Monica Sementilli’s automotive.

And what in regards to the allegation that she used to be observing video of the home because the homicide came about?

Michelle Miller: As soon as she went throughout the Goal — there used to be a time limit the place she gave the impression fascinated, fixated on her telephone.

Julie Rendelman: Smartly, I will let you know something. The prosecution does not know what she used to be observing on her telephone. They can’t articulate nor will they ever be capable to articulate what used to be occurring in that telephone.

Michelle Miller: Nevertheless it used to be being streamed from her house.

Julie Rendelman: She might be observing a display, identical to any certainly one of us watched your display whilst we are strolling alongside.

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

Julie Rendelman: Smartly, let me quote what the protection says in —with regard to that. “The prosecutor’s proof of Ms. Sementilli’s affair and particularly the sexist and lurid way through which it used to be offered … used to be beside the point, unsuitable and unfairly prejudicial to Ms. Sementilli.”

Julie Rendelman: They cross on and say, “the sexual and romantic main points in their affair have been merely beside the point to the query, whether or not they conspired to homicide Fabio Sementilli.”

However then why misinform investigators — allegedly pronouncing she used to be undecided of Robert Baker’s remaining identify?

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 any individual for relatively some time and does not need the arena to understand specifically, legislation enforcement? 

Prosecutors did in finding it suspicious that at the night time Fabio died, Monica used to be already inquiring about his lifestyles insurance coverage. However Rendelman says it is not atypical.

Julie Rendelman: I perceive, um, how it might glance insensitive to begin asking a couple of lifestyles insurance coverage so quickly after. However if you are, uh, a person that’s not financially sound, you’ve gotten two women at house, you’ve gotten probably a loan to pay, you’ve gotten expenses to pay, you’re going to be frightened in regards to the monetary safety of your circle of relatives.

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

And prosecutor Beth Silverman’s megastar witness? That moment hooded determine within the surveillance video, Christopher Austin.  Austin reduce a deal. He pleaded to blame to the lesser rate of second-degree homicide which probably way a lighter jail sentence and, in change, agreed to testify honestly at Monica’s trial.  Austin instructed the jury, that previous to the homicide, he knew Monica sought after Fabio useless. 

CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN (in court docket): Baker instructed me … she needs him long past.

At the day of Fabio’s homicide, Austin testified that it used to be Monica who used to be directing Robert Baker by the use of textual content messages to kill her husband. He even defined how he and Baker were given into the Sementilli area.

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

And he additionally mentioned that Monica alerted Baker to let him know Fabio used to be house by myself. However Monica’s protection claims Austin simplest introduced up Monica’s identify to get that deal. And Austin admits he by no means for my part spoke to Monica or heard Baker talking along with her.  Nonetheless he insisted Monica used to be in rate.

CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN (in court docket): … he used to be chatting with her by the use of textual content message. … the whole thing that took place in series used to be after he talked to her.

However Robert Baker would inform an excessively other tale.  Baker took the stand and mentioned it used to be him, now not Monica, who sought after Fabio useless.  Monica, he claims, had no wisdom he deliberate to kill Fabio.

ROB BAKER (in court docket): I murdered him as a result of I sought after her. … I sought after her to be round me and with me extra like at all times.

Any other issue that might lend a hand Monica, says Rendelman — the daughters she shared with Fabio supported their mom and testified.  

Julie Rendelman: And so, there may be a controversy to be made that the jury is having a look on the daughter pronouncing, “in the event that they consider her in any case this, should not we?”

In last arguments, Monica’s protection lawyer Leonard Levine would inform the jury the one factor Monica is to blame of used to be having an affair.

LEONARD LEVINE (in court docket): Adultery isn’t homicide. … She used to be obsessed along with her circle of relatives now not learning — with anyone now not learning … Now not as a result of she used to be a part of the homicide, however as a result of she used to be having an affair.

The jury deliberated for over 3 days sooner than they got here to a verdict: to blame of homicide and conspiracy to dedicate homicide. After 8 lengthy years, it used to be the decision Fabio’s sister Mirella used to be looking forward to.

Mirella Rota: Justice used to be served as of late. It’s the most lovely day for our circle of relatives. Our spirits are lifted. My brother can now relaxation in peace. And the murderers that experience deceived him are precisely the place they belong as of late. 

Christopher Austin used to be sentenced to 16 years-to-life for his function in Fabio Sementilli’s homicide. 

On June 23, 2025, Monica Sementilli used to be sentenced to lifestyles in jail with out the potential for parole.  She plans to enchantment.  

Produced via Chuck Stevenson. Greg Fisher is the advance manufacturer. Gabriella Demirdjian and Hannah Vair are the sphere manufacturers. Michael Baluzy, Grayce Arlotta-Berner, Wini Dini and Chris Crater are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Judy Tygard is the chief manufacturer.