Daniel Yacobi is a former California dentist who was convicted of murdering his mother, Violet Yacobi, inside her Beverly Hills mansion in 2017. The case drew national attention because of the family’s wealth, the allegations of financial motive, and the years-long investigation that ended with a first-degree murder conviction.
Before the murder case, Daniel appeared to live a successful professional life in Southern California. He graduated from Boston University’s dental school in 2007 and later operated a dental practice in Simi Valley while also working in offices throughout the Los Angeles area. Friends and acquaintances described him as intelligent and professionally trained, though testimony later revealed that he struggled with personal dissatisfaction and financial pressure.
- “Beverly Hills 911”: 48 Hours Reports on Violet Yacobi Homicide May 9 2026
- Who Was Violet Yacobi & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
His Family Background and Career
Daniel was raised in an affluent household by his parents, Violet and Dr. Solomon Yacobi. The family lived in Beverly Hills, where Solomon worked as a physician and Violet managed the family and household affairs. According to testimony presented during trial, Daniel had a complicated relationship with his parents.
One witness, Dean Summers, testified that Daniel told him he felt pushed into dentistry by his parents and hated the profession. Summers also testified that Daniel described his mother as controlling and said he hated both of his parents. Those statements became a significant part of the prosecution’s effort to establish motive and emotional resentment within the family.
Financial and Personal Pressures
By the mid-2010s, prosecutors argued that Daniel was facing increasing pressure in both his professional and personal life. Trial testimony suggested his dental business had struggled financially, and some patients recalled him discussing difficulties keeping his practice afloat.
Despite the prosecution’s portrayal of financial problems, the defense argued that Daniel was not desperate for money. His attorneys stated that he had recently secured a $1 million loan connected to a planned dental practice acquisition in Inglewood, California. The defense used that information to argue there was no urgent need for inheritance money.
The Murder of Violet Yacobi
On October 10, 2017, Daniel and his sister Dina discovered their mother dead on the marble floor near the staircase inside the family’s Beverly Hills mansion. Early questions centered on whether Violet had suffered a tragic fall.
The case shifted after the coroner ruled Violet’s death a homicide caused by asphyxiation. Prosecutors later alleged that Daniel strangled his mother sometime on October 9, 2017, then left the scene in an attempt to make the death appear accidental.
Evidence Presented at Trial
During Daniel’s 2025 murder trial, prosecutors introduced surveillance footage, geo-location evidence, internet searches, and witness testimony. Authorities said data placed Daniel’s white Jaguar near Violet’s home around the estimated time of the killing.
Prosecutors also highlighted testimony from family friend Joseph Mamalinger, who said Daniel asked him about inheritance taxes shortly before Violet’s death. Investigators further alleged that Daniel searched online for the phrase “does the choke hold create a bruise?” before the murder.
Conviction and Sentence
Daniel Yacobi pleaded not guilty and maintained through his defense team that Violet may have died from blunt force trauma caused by a fall from a second-story balcony. His attorneys challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of the forensic evidence.
After hearing the evidence, jurors deliberated for roughly one day before convicting Daniel on August 22, 2025, of first-degree murder. The jury also found true the special allegation that the killing was committed for financial gain because Daniel stood to inherit part of Violet’s estimated $12 million estate.
Where Is Daniel Yacobi Now?
Daniel Yacobi is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole in California. He was formally sentenced on October 3, 2025, following his conviction for the murder of his mother.
The case ended a legal process that lasted nearly eight years from Violet Yacobi’s death to Daniel’s sentencing. Once a practicing dentist living in Southern California, Daniel now remains incarcerated under a sentence that ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
More “Beverly Hills 911”
- “Beverly Hills 911”: 48 Hours Reports on Violet Yacobi Homicide May 9 2026
- Who Was Violet Yacobi & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
- Who Is Daniel Yacobi & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile