California Man Arrested After Homeless Man Finds Human Torso in Dumpster
A California man, whose wife and in-laws are currently missing, has been arrested on a murder charge. This comes after a dismembered torso was found in a dumpster at a strip mall. SAMANTHA LAUREY/AFP via Getty Images

A suspect has been apprehended in California after a homeless individual discovered a female human torso inside a plastic bag while rummaging through a trash bin on Wednesday morning, as per authorities, per Yahoo! News.

The grim discovery occurred at approximately 6:15 AM near a dumpster situated outside a strip mall at the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Rubio Ave. in Encino, a neighborhood in the city, according to police.

Video evidence from the scene prompted investigators to conduct a search of a residence in Tarzana, where Los Angeles Police Detective Efren Gutierrez said that they found "blood evidence and other items."

The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of 35-year-old California man, Samuel Haskell, which took place around 11:30 AM at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park.

Three individuals with close ties to Haskell, including his wife Mei Haskell, and her parents, Gaoshan Li (72) and YanXiang Wang (64), are reported as missing, according to police statements.

Human Torso Found in Dumpster

The remains were so dismembered that authorities were unable to identify the victim. Nevertheless, they were able to determine that the dismembered body was a recent murder, likely occurring in the past few days.

Detective Gutierrez explained that dismemberment in murder cases is often done to delay the identification process, adding that the investigation was still ongoing regarding the victim's identity.

A neighbor had reported seeing body parts in a bag outside Haskell's house the day before, around 7:30 PM, but when the police arrived at the residence, the bags had disappeared, PEOPLE noted.

California authorities noted that there were no identifiable marks, such as tattoos, on the human torso.

The commercial area where the discovery was made includes two banks, a hair salon, and a family-style restaurant.

On Wednesday, police located the couple's three children at school and placed them under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services, per the NY Post.

Local residents expressed shock upon learning about the gruesome discovery, with one resident remarking, "I think it was kind of weird to drive up and be blocked off along the boulevard and into the little center over here and to find out that there were body parts there ... in Encino!"

"We've had a lot of crime in Encino over the last couple of months," the individual added.

Investigators are still actively seeking tips, and they hope that surveillance footage may provide further insights into the case.

California Man's Father Is the President of Magnolia Hill Productions

Samuel Haskell's father, Sam Haskell Sr., holds the position of President at Magnolia Hill Productions, a company responsible for various Dolly Parton specials, including "Dolly Parton's Magic Mountain Christmas" and "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors."

Haskell Sr. formerly served as a prominent agent at William Morris Agency, representing notable figures like Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg, Ray Romano, George Clooney, Martin Short, Kirstie Alley, Tony Danza, Debbie Allen, Kathie Lee Gifford, and even King Charles' younger brother, Prince Edward, during his 27-year career, TMZ said.

Meanwhile, the police have been unable to establish contact with any of the missing family members by phone, according to Detective Gutierrez, ABC News noted.

Mei Li Haskell's car was found at the residence, but two other vehicles associated with the household are currently missing.

LAPD has requested assistance in locating a white VW Tiguan with license plate 9ANC890 and a white 2014 Nissan Pathfinder with license plate 7FRM190.

Samuel Haskell is presently in custody with a bail set at $2 million, and his court appearance is scheduled for November 13, as indicated by online jail records.

It remains unclear whether the California man has legal representation to speak on his behalf.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Arrest made after woman's torso found in dumpster - From FOX 11 Los Angeles