In the gripping 20/20 episode “Sex, Knives, and Videotape,” the case of A-list celebrity hairstylist Fabio Sementilli’s brutal murder is explored in detail. In the past, Monica Sementilli was a devoted wife and mother who resided in a luxurious home in Woodland Hills, California. However, she is now confronted with a very different reality. The 53-year-old woman who used to live a posh and privileged life has been found guilty of planning the brutal murder of her husband, celebrity hairstylist Fabio Sementilli, in 2017. She is currently in jail waiting to be sentenced for her part in the crime.
THE LIFE THEY BUILT
Monica first met Fabio in Toronto, Canada, where she worked as a makeup artist and he had already made a name for himself as a hairstylist. Their relationship blossomed into marriage in 1997. Together, they raised two daughters, Gessica and Isabella, and also helped raise Fabio’s son, Luigi, from a previous relationship. In 2008, the family moved to Los Angeles where Fabio worked as a high-level executive for the hair-care giant Wella and continued to grow his star-studded clientele, including Jennifer Lopez, Russell Crowe, and Jackie Chan.
To outsiders, the Sementillis seemed to have a picture-perfect life. But behind the doors of their upscale Woodland Hills home, dark secrets brewed.
A SECRET AFFAIR AND A DEADLY PLAN
By 2016, Monica had started an affair with Robert Louis Baker, a convicted sex offender who worked as a racquetball coach at West Hills LA Fitness. They were deeply in love with each other, and they soon started making plans for a future together without Fabio. Monica and Baker didn’t want to get a divorce, so they came up with a plan to kill Fabio and get his $1.6 million life insurance.
Later, the police found sexually explicit photos and videos that Monica and Baker had sent each other. Some of these were taken while Monica was in Toronto for her husband’s funeral. These upsetting facts showed that the woman was very close to her lover, even though she was still grieving over her husband.
THE MURDER
On January 23, 2017, the plan was carried out. Monica took her daughter Isabella out shopping, leaving the backdoor of their home unlocked for Baker and his accomplice, Christopher Austin, to enter. The two men attacked Fabio on the patio, stabbing him multiple times in the neck and torso. They then ransacked the house, removed the DVR containing security footage, and fled in Fabio’s black 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera, later abandoning it miles away.
When Monica and Isabella returned home, they found Fabio’s lifeless body. The community was shocked. At first, it seemed like a robbery gone wrong. But detectives would soon uncover a far more sinister truth.
INVESTIGATION AND ARREST
The investigation quickly intensified. Traces of blood and other forensic evidence at the scene eventually led to Baker and Austin. With further digging, Monica’s involvement came to light. In June 2017, all three were arrested. Monica was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
During the trial, Baker claimed he alone was responsible for the murder. “I murdered him because I wanted her,” he told the jury, insisting that Monica had nothing to do with the act itself. Monica’s defense leaned on this, arguing she may have been unfaithful but was not a killer. Her attorney told jurors, “Adultery is not murder.”
However, the prosecution painted a different picture—one of a calculating woman who used her affair as a tool to plan her husband’s death. Testimony from Austin proved critical. He confirmed that Monica had intentionally left the door open to allow him and Baker to enter, making it clear she was complicit in the plan.
TRIAL AND CONVICTION
The trial lasted 10 weeks and saw testimony from multiple witnesses, including Austin and investigators who had worked the case for years. Prosecutors argued that Monica’s motive was financial gain and the desire to be with Baker without the burden of a divorce. The jury of 12 deliberated for three days, ultimately finding Monica guilty on April 11, 2025.
She was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. As the verdict was read, Monica sobbed in court, realizing the gravity of her future.
THE MURDER OF FABIO SEMENTILLI: WHERE IS ROBERT LOUIS BAKER TODAY?
WHERE IS MONICA SEMENTILLI NOW?
Currently, Monica Sementilli is being held at an LA County jail, awaiting sentencing. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2025, at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. Prosecutors are seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Following the verdict, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman released a statement saying, “This was a cold and calculated crime motivated by greed and betrayal… Our office remains steadfast in the pursuit of justice for victims and their families.”
For Fabio’s family, the guilty verdict brought a sense of closure. His sister, Mirella Sementilli, expressed relief after the trial, saying, “Our spirits are lifted. My brother can now rest in peace and the murderers that have deceived him are exactly where they belong.”
Despite the outcome, Monica’s legal team has vowed to appeal the conviction. “We are disappointed by the verdict and will pursue every legal avenue to obtain her eventual exoneration and her freedom,” her lawyer announced.
The verdict brought some closure to Fabio’s grieving family. “Justice was served today,” said Fabio’s sister Mirella Sementilli. “Our spirits are lifted. My brother can now rest in peace.” Another sister, Lori Picillo, added, “We are overjoyed that she will spend the rest of her life in jail. No parole.”
The murder of Fabio Sementilli rocked the beauty industry and sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles community. A man known for his kindness, talent, and generosity was taken from his family in the most brutal way imaginable. His death not only devastated his loved ones but also opened a dark window into the lives of people who seemed to have it all.
As for Robert Louis Baker, he confessed to his role in the murder and is now serving a life sentence. Christopher Austin, who held Fabio down while Baker stabbed him, received a 16-year sentence and testified against the couple.
Meanwhile, Monica Sementilli sits behind bars, no longer the glamorous wife of a celebrity stylist, but a convicted murderer awaiting what is likely to be a lifetime in prison.
Stay tuned to tvacute.com for more updates, news, and deep dives into true crime stories like this one.
Where Are Monica and Fabio Sementilli’s Children Now? 2025 Update
