Josh Mankiewicz

It came back to a man who'd spent time behind bars. Why was he in the system?

It came back to a man who'd spent time behind bars. Why was he in the system?

Who was this man? And why would a sex offender want Fabio Cementilli dead? Less than a month after Fabio Cimentelli's murder, LAPD detectives got a break. A DNA hit that identified a man they believed was one of Fabio's killers. He was a convicted sex offender, and his name? Robert Baker. Robert Baker is a name you've heard before.

Who was this man? And why would a sex offender want Fabio Cementilli dead? Less than a month after Fabio Cimentelli's murder, LAPD detectives got a break. A DNA hit that identified a man they believed was one of Fabio's killers. He was a convicted sex offender, and his name? Robert Baker. Robert Baker is a name you've heard before.

That's right, Robert Baker, whose blood was in Fabio's Porsche, was Rob, the guy in the imitation leather jacket, the one Monica's mom thought was preying on a new widow. Right after the memorial, a family friend passed his name to investigators and also reported some behavior she thought was odd.

That's right, Robert Baker, whose blood was in Fabio's Porsche, was Rob, the guy in the imitation leather jacket, the one Monica's mom thought was preying on a new widow. Right after the memorial, a family friend passed his name to investigators and also reported some behavior she thought was odd.

And while Rob was at the house, leaning into Monica, friends saw something.

And while Rob was at the house, leaning into Monica, friends saw something.

That bandage, plus Rob's affinity for all things Monica, was enough for the friends to document that.

That bandage, plus Rob's affinity for all things Monica, was enough for the friends to document that.

Those photos were shared with detectives, who at first didn't seem to think much of it until Robert Baker's blood ended up matching the blood in Fabio's car. And in that photo, he's got a bandage on his hand.

Those photos were shared with detectives, who at first didn't seem to think much of it until Robert Baker's blood ended up matching the blood in Fabio's car. And in that photo, he's got a bandage on his hand.

A finger on his left hand, which would be right in the area of the bloodstain that you found in the Porsche.

A finger on his left hand, which would be right in the area of the bloodstain that you found in the Porsche.

Baker's blood was also found inside the Cementilli home and on that bottle of vinegar left in the sink. As detectives excavated Baker's past, they found a diverse resume. He was a 54-year-old Army veteran who served as a staff sergeant and recruiter for more than a decade.

Baker's blood was also found inside the Cementilli home and on that bottle of vinegar left in the sink. As detectives excavated Baker's past, they found a diverse resume. He was a 54-year-old Army veteran who served as a staff sergeant and recruiter for more than a decade.

And there was this professional detour. He's upstairs. I know. a nearly 20-year career in the adult entertainment business. Baker both acted in X-rated movies and also managed other performers. By 2017, he was a registered sex offender because of that previous conviction and was working at the gym, where Monica was an active member.

And there was this professional detour. He's upstairs. I know. a nearly 20-year career in the adult entertainment business. Baker both acted in X-rated movies and also managed other performers. By 2017, he was a registered sex offender because of that previous conviction and was working at the gym, where Monica was an active member.

Investigators had more than enough evidence to arrest Rob Baker. Instead, they left him alone and decided to return to the Cementilli home and speak again with Monica, who was still living at the scene of the crime. What they really wanted to learn more about was her racquetball instructor. Detectives decided to avoid any mention of the DNA hit.

Investigators had more than enough evidence to arrest Rob Baker. Instead, they left him alone and decided to return to the Cementilli home and speak again with Monica, who was still living at the scene of the crime. What they really wanted to learn more about was her racquetball instructor. Detectives decided to avoid any mention of the DNA hit.