More than eight years after the brutal murder of renowned hairstylist Fabio Sementilli, one of the two men convicted in his killing, former adult film actor and talent agent Rob Baker, took the stand in an attempt to absolve his former lover, Monica Sementilli, of any involvement.

Rob Baker (now 62) who pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and faces life in prison without parole, now claims that Monica Sementilli—Fabio’s widow and his alleged co-conspirator—was not involved in the plot.

“She had nothing to do with it,” Robert Baker testified in court, contradicting previous statements and testimony from co-defendant Christopher Austin, who maintains that Monica was the mastermind behind the murder.

On January 23, 2017, Fabio Sementilli, a high-profile Canadian hairstylist and executive at Wella, was found brutally stabbed to death on the back patio of his Woodland Hills home.

His wife, Monica Sementilli, and Baker—her lover—were arrested six months later, charged with capital murder and conspiracy. Prosecutors argue that Monica orchestrated her husband’s killing to collect $1.6 million in life insurance money, enlisting Baker and his accomplice, Christopher Austin, to carry out the crime.

During his testimony, Austin—who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and faces 16 years to life in prison—testified that Monica left the door unlocked so the men could enter and attack Fabio.

“She wanted him dead,” Austin told jurors, claiming Baker assured him that Monica desired the killing and that it was for the insurance money.

Rob Baker’s sudden change in narrative has raised suspicions among prosecutors, who accused him of altering his story to protect Monica.

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman confronted Baker, asking: “You have repeatedly changed your story to fit the evidence in this case, correct?”

Rob Baker’s defense struggled to explain the inconsistencies in his testimony, especially in light of overwhelming evidence tying him to the crime, including:

• His DNA was found at the crime scene and inside the victim’s stolen Porsche.
• Cell phone records show more than 26,000 calls between him and Monica in the year leading up to the murder.
• Encrypted messages were exchanged between Baker and Monica on the day of the killing.

Rob Baker and Monica met at a West Hills LA Fitness gym, where Baker worked as a racquetball coach. Their romantic affair quickly escalated, with prosecutors alleging that Monica convinced Baker to eliminate her husband rather than endure a messy divorce.

Phone records revealed that in the year before Fabio’s murder, Monica and Baker had an extraordinary 71 conversations per day—suggesting an intense and obsessive relationship.

The physical evidence, coupled with testimony from Austin, directly implicates Monica, but Baker’s recent testimony appears to be an attempt to shield her from responsibility.

Despite Baker’s attempts to take sole blame, prosecutors presented damning evidence implicating Monica, including:

• Security footage showing Monica monitoring the area around her home just before the attack.
• Video of Monica instructing Baker to ‘deny everything’ after their arrest.

Records of Monica purchasing disposable phones after the murder, allegedly to avoid detection.
Investigators also found 200 sexually explicit images of Monica and Baker, taken while Monica was in Toronto for her husband’s funeral, further suggesting their relationship continued without remorse.

Who Is Rob Baker?

Before his involvement in this gruesome murder, Robert Baker had a dark past in the adult industry.

• In the 1990s, he was a pornographic film actor who worked for major studios like Wicked Pictures, Vivid Video, and Evil Angel.
• He was also a talent agent for young adult film actresses, including former Adam & Eve contract star Carmen Luvana.
• In 1993, he was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, a 14 or 15-year-old girl, which branded him a registered sex offender.

Despite his criminal record, Baker remained active in the adult industry for years, working as a “suitcase pimp”—a term used for men who financially exploit female performers. His violent tendencies escalated, culminating in Fabio Sementilli’s brutal murder.

As the trial nears its conclusion, the jury must decide whether Monica Sementilli was the mastermind or whether Baker acted alone, as he now claims.

With compelling witness testimony, forensic evidence, and overwhelming digital records, prosecutors are confident in their case against Monica.

“This was a calculated murder for financial gain,” prosecutors argued. “And Monica was at the center of it.”

If convicted, Monica Sementilli could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Rob Baker, already pleading no contest, will spend the rest of his life behind bars—whether or not his latest testimony saves Monica remains to be seen.