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Crime

49-year-old Fabio Sementilli was found dead outside his Woodland Hills home in Los Angeles, California, on January 23rd, 2017, by his youngest daughter.

The accomplished hairstylist and vice president of a hair care business had been stabbed in the face and upper body several times.

Investigation

Early in the investigation, detectives suspected two men of going to the home, committing the murder, and taking off with Fabio’s 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera, which was found a few miles away from the murder scene.

It looked like a burglary, but authorities suspected it was all staged.

As the months passed, investigators learned that Monica had been having an affair with Robert Louis Baker for a year and a half.

Cell phone evidence showed the two discussed killing Fabio so they could cash in on his $1.6 million life insurance.

Detectives also found communications in which Monica provided Baker with instructions on accessing her home video surveillance. She also told him her husband would be alone on the day he was killed.

Blood evidence left at the scene matched Baker.

Monica and her lover were arrested in June 2017 and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors later added conspiracy to commit murder charges.

Legal Proceedings

After sitting in jail for six years, Baker resolved his case by pleading no contest to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in July 2023.

He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case had its next big break in October 2024 when authorities arrested Christopher Austin, the man who helped Baker kill Fabio.

Austin pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in January 2025 and was later sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Monica opted not to take a plea deal and went to trial in early 2025, proclaiming her innocence.

Baker took the stand for the defense and claimed that Monica was not involved in the planning or the murder of Fabio. Baker said he killed Fabio so he could have Monica all to himself.

Austin also took the stand, saying that Baker told him Monica wanted her husband dead. Austin also testified that Monica told Baker when they could go to the home and that she left the door open.

After the murder, they left the scene in Fabio’s Porsche with a couple of items that Baker had stolen from the home.

After several weeks of testimony, the jury got the case, and when they came back with their verdict, Monica couldn’t believe it

She broke down in tears as she was convicted of murder with the special circumstances of lying in wait and murder for financial gain. She was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.

She returned to court in June 2025 for sentencing.

Despite her heinous actions and the fact that she allowed her youngest daughter to find the body, the girls believe she is innocent and spoke in support of her.

After hearing from the family, the judge handed down his verdict. Monica was hoping she would have an opportunity for parole one day, but the 53-year-old was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.