Bob Samuels and the Green Widow Murders

When a hardworking Hollywood cameraman is found shot dead in his Los Angeles home, police initially assume it’s a burglary gone wrong. With no forced entry and no stolen items, however, the investigation turns to personal vendettas, ultimately leading to the discovery of an additional linked murder and landing one of the perpetrators on death row.

Sources:

1. Dziemianowicz, Joe. “‘Green Widow’ Mary Ellen Samuels Masterminded Two Hired Hits.” Oxygen, Oxygen, 11 Nov. 2023, https://www.oxygen.com/the-real-murders-of-los-angeles/crime-news/green-widow-mary-ellen-samuels-masterminded-two-hired.

2. “James Victor Bernstein (1963-1989) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/269919210/james-victor-bernstein. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

3. “People v. Samuels - S042278 - Mon, 06/27/2005 | California Supreme Court Resources.” California Supreme Court Resources | Stanford Law School Robert Crown Law Library, https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-samuels-33524. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

4. Nothing Personal. 2011.

5. “Robert Briskham ‘Bob’ Samuels (1948-1988) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67018092/robert_briskham-samuels. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

6. The Real Murders of Los Angeles. 2023.

7. The LA Times, 17 Sept. 1994.

8. The LA Times, 11 Dec. 1988.

9. The LA Times, 22 July 1994.

10. The LA Times, 15 July 1994.

11. Oakland Tribune, 18 Sept. 1994.

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