Investigation Discovery’s Death by Fame returns, once again reminding us that the pursuit of celebrity can sometimes lead down dark and dangerous paths. This week’s episode kicks off with a gruesome discovery: a human torso found in a Hollywood dumpster. This, as one might expect, tends to put a damper on the whole “glitz and glamour” thing.
The victim’s identity leads investigators to Sam Haskell IV, son of a prominent Hollywood power player. Apparently, young Haskell was attempting to forge his own path in filmmaking, independent of his family’s influence. Whether this ambition had anything to do with the dismembered body remains to be seen.
As the investigation unfolds, the episode looks to unearth long-buried secrets within the entertainment industry. The implication, of course, is that Hollywood is a breeding ground for corruption and depravity, a narrative that Death by Fame seems to relish.
One can anticipate the usual true crime tropes: grainy crime scene photos, dramatic reenactments, and talking heads speculating about motives.
Episode 2 of Death by Fame airs Monday, January 20, 2025, at 9 PM on Investigation Discovery.