The seemingly idyllic life of Robert “Bob” Samuels, a successful Hollywood camera operator who worked on films like Lethal Weapon and Heaven Can Wait, came to a tragic end on December 9, 1988. Found dead in his Northridge, California home by his ex-wife, Mary Ellen Samuels, his murder sparked a complex investigation that uncovered a web of deceit, greed, and ultimately, a second murder. This is the chilling story of the “Green Widow.”
The Initial Investigation: A Mysterious Death
The scene at Robert Samuels’ home was perplexing. A single shotgun blast to the head, a pillow used as a silencer, no signs of forced entry, and no missing valuables. The initial assumption of a burglary quickly faded as detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department began their investigation. Interviews with Mary Ellen Samuels, who had recently filed for divorce from the victim, and her 18-year-old daughter, Nicole, whom Samuels had adopted, yielded little in the way of leads. The pair appeared cooperative, and investigators initially had no reason to suspect them.
Mary Ellen Samuels. Photo: Oxygen
The $500,000 Life Insurance Policy: A Red Flag Emerges
The discovery of a $500,000 life insurance policy on Robert Samuels, with Mary Ellen as the beneficiary, raised a red flag for investigators. While Mary Ellen passed a polygraph test and subsequently received the insurance payout, the autopsy revealed additional injuries. Samuels had been struck with a tubular object, believed to be the shotgun barrel, before being shot. This detail hinted at a more personal, violent motive than simple robbery.
Exploring Other Leads: A Jealous Husband and Industry Disputes
The investigation branched out, exploring various possibilities. Detectives looked into Samuels’ romantic life, discovering he had been dating a married woman separated from her husband. The husband, a former police officer with a history of domestic violence and access to a shotgun, became a person of interest. However, a solid alibi cleared him of suspicion. Further inquiries into Samuels’ business dealings within the film industry, including a contentious tax issue, also proved fruitless.
The Anonymous Tip: James Bernstein Enters the Picture
The case went cold for five months until an anonymous tipster contacted the LAPD, implicating James “Jim” Bernstein in Samuels’ murder. Bernstein, it turned out, had a minor criminal record for drug-related offenses and a connection to the Samuels family – he had been casually dating Nicole.
Jim Bernstein. Photo: Oxygen
A Twisted Motive and a Second Murder
Bernstein’s colleagues revealed disturbing conversations in which he claimed Samuels had molested Nicole and deserved to die. However, a thorough search of records found no evidence of such accusations. As police sought to question Bernstein, he vanished. Tragically, his body was discovered in July 1989 along a Ventura County trail, strangled to death.
Unraveling the Truth: The Green Widow Exposed
The investigation into Bernstein’s murder led police to David Navarro, Bernstein’s drug-dealing partner and the anonymous tipster who had initially implicated Bernstein. Navarro revealed a shocking truth: Mary Ellen Samuels had orchestrated both murders. She had initially approached Navarro to kill Samuels for the insurance money and the Subway sandwich shop she managed, which Samuels owned. After Bernstein completed the first murder, Mary Ellen, fearing he would talk, hired two more individuals, Paul Gaul and Darrel Edwards, to kill him.
Darrell Edwards. Photo: Oxygen
The Evidence Mounts: Phone Records, Payroll Records, and a Disturbing Photograph
Physical evidence corroborated Navarro’s confession. Phone records showed calls between Bernstein and both Mary Ellen and Nicole on the night of Samuels’ murder. Payroll records from the sandwich shop revealed payments to Bernstein, suggesting payment for the hit. A search of Mary Ellen’s home uncovered a Polaroid photograph of her posing with the insurance money, earning her the moniker “The Green Widow.”
Justice Served: Convictions and Sentences
Mary Ellen Samuels was arrested and charged with both murders. Gaul and Edwards pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for their testimony, detailing how Mary Ellen hired them and how they strangled Bernstein. They were sentenced to 15 years to life and released in 2009. In May 1994, Mary Ellen Samuels was convicted and sentenced to death. Her sentence was later commuted to life in prison without parole.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Deceit and Violence
The case of Mary Ellen Samuels, the “Green Widow,” stands as a chilling example of greed and manipulation leading to devastating consequences. The murders of Robert Samuels and James Bernstein exposed a dark underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives, highlighting the devastating impact of betrayal and the pursuit of ill-gotten gains. The case remains a stark reminder of the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of greed.
