About this episode

The episode explores the murder of Hollywood cameraman Bob Samuels and the subsequent investigation that revealed personal vendettas and linked 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’…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jessie Pray, Andie Cassette

Topics covered

• murder investigation
• Hollywood crime
• personal vendettas
• death row
• linked murders

Keywords

• Bob Samuels
• Green Widow
• murder
• Los Angeles
• death row
• Mary Ellen Samuels
• crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: California Supreme Court, Oxygen, Find a Grave, The LA Times

Places: Los Angeles

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the LOVE MURDER podcast page.