A chilling case out of Beverly Hills has come to a dramatic end. On Friday, October 3, Los Angeles dentist Daniel Yacobi was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 murder of his mother, Violet Yacobi.
The 67-year-old widow was found strangled in her $8 million Beverly Hills mansion, and prosecutors say her son killed her to secure his piece of her estimated $12 million estate.
The case first came to light on October 10, 2017, when Violet’s brother grew worried after she didn’t answer his call about a routine errand. It was unusual behavior for Violet, especially as she was still mourning the loss of her husband, Solomon, a well-known physician who had died the year before.
Later that evening, Violet was discovered lifeless at the foot of a grand marble staircase in her home. A coroner ruled her death a homicide. Four months later, in February 2018, Daniel was arrested and charged with her murder.
Shockingly, just weeks after the killing—and on what would have been Violet’s 68th birthday—Daniel posted a tribute on Facebook that read, “I know you and Dad are up there smiling down on us.”
But behind the scenes, prosecutors were building a case. During the trial, held years later in July 2025 after multiple delays, disturbing evidence came to light. Daniel had allegedly searched online, “does the choke hold create a bruise?” He’d also reportedly asked a family friend about inheritance tax just weeks before Violet’s death. When questioned about the odd timing, the friend recalled Daniel going pale and quickly leaving the conversation.
In court, a neighbor’s brother testified that Daniel was unhappy with his life and career. According to the witness, Daniel said he had been forced into dentistry by his parents and confessed to hating both of them—especially his mother, who he described as controlling.
Prosecutors painted a picture of a resentful son who saw his mother not as family, but as an obstacle. “He choked the life out of her,” said Deputy District Attorney Shane Michael during opening statements. “And left her there in her home — the home he grew up in.”
Daniel’s defense team argued that Violet died from a fall from a second-story balcony, but the jury didn’t buy it. He was found guilty of murder on August 22.
Now, with his sentencing finalized, Daniel Yacobi will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
He got what he deserves