On April 10, 2015, Tahereh Ghassemi, a 54-year-old Iranian immigrant, vanished from her Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home, sparking a chilling investigation that uncovered a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by her ex-husband, Hamid Ghassemi.
Her body was found shot in a wooded area, which revealed a scheme driven by financial gain and international ties. The case, featured in the Dateline NBC episode The Ultimate Betrayal detailed a complex web of betrayal.
Who was Tahereh Ghassemi, What happened to her?
Tahereh Ghassemi was a 54-year-old Iranian immigrant born in 1961 in Iran. She moved to the United States in the 1990s with her then-husband, Hamid Ghassemi, and their two children, a son and a daughter. Settling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she worked as a registered nurse, employed at local hospitals and clinics, including Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Described as dedicated and generous, Tahereh was deeply involved in her Persian community, often hosting gatherings.
She divorced Hamid in 2010 after a tumultuous marriage marked by his controlling behavior, as noted by her son in Dateline interviews. Post-divorce, she lived with her adult son in a Baton Rouge home, maintaining close ties with both children. In early 2015, Tahereh inherited over $500,000 from a family estate in Iran, a key factor in her murder’s motive. Known for her resilience, she pursued further nursing education and was active in local charities, leaving a lasting impact on her family and community.
Tahereh Ghassemi’s body was found on April 15, 2015, in a wooded area near Old Scenic Highway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, wrapped in a blue tarp and partially concealed by brush. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office autopsy revealed she died from three gunshot wounds—two to the chest and one to the head—fired from a .38-caliber handgun.
The bullets caused fatal internal damage, with death estimated within minutes of the shooting. No defensive wounds were noted, suggesting an ambush. Minor abrasions on her arms and legs were attributed to post-mortem movement. The crime scene showed no signs of a struggle, but tire tracks and a discarded cigarette butt were collected. The tarp contained Tahereh’s blood but no fingerprints. The remote, wooded location off a dirt road indicated the body was dumped to avoid detection.
The investigation of Tahereh Ghassemi case
Forensic analysis centered on the crime scene and ballistic evidence. The 0.38-caliber bullets matched a handgun later traced to Skyler Williams, though the weapon was never recovered. Blood on the tarp confirmed Tahereh’s identity via DNA, but no DNA from the suspects was found. The cigarette butt contained Richter’s DNA, placing him at the dump site.
Tire tracks matched a vehicle owned by Tyler, further linking the hitmen. Financial records showed Hamid wired $10,000 to an account tied to Richter, with phone records revealing calls between Hamid and the hitmen days before the murder.
Tahereh’s phone, found in her home, showed no suspicious activity, but her bank records revealed a recent inheritance of over $500,000, a key motive. In 2015, Richter’s confession detailed the abduction from Tahereh’s home, her transport to the wooded area, and the shooting by Tyler. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station captured Reese’s vehicle on April 10, 2015, at 8:17 p.m., near the crime scene.
Suspects and charges in the Tahereh Ghassemi murder case
The 2015 murder of Tahereh Ghassemi in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, involved four suspects: Hamid Ghassemi, the mastermind, and hitmen Robert Richter, Skyler Williams, and Tyler Ashpaugh. Below is a detailed account of each suspect, their arrests, and the charges they faced
Hamid Ghassemi
Hamid Ghassemi, born around 1951, was Tahereh’s ex-husband, a Baton Rouge car dealer of Iranian descent. Their 2010 divorce left him owing Tahereh over $1.1 million and two homes, fueling his motive alongside her 2015 inheritance. On May 18, 2015, Baton Rouge Police arrested Hamid, then 64, at his dealership after financial records showed a $10,000 transfer to Robert Richter and phone records linked him to the hitmen. His claim of being in Houston on April 10, 2015, was disproved by cell tower data placing him in Baton Rouge.
Charged in June 2016 with first-degree murder (carrying life without parole) and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors alleged he hired Richter, Williams, and Ashpaugh to kill Tahereh to avoid paying her divorce settlement and to gain her inheritance. His defense argued he was framed, citing no forensic evidence, but his conviction relied on Richter’s testimony, bank transfers, and calls. As of May 2025, Hamid Ghassemi, now approximately 74, is serving his life sentence at the Louisiana Department of Corrections, likely at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.
Robert Richter
Robert Richter, born around 1982, was a 33-year-old employee at Hamid’s dealership, known to him for years. He acted as the intermediary, recruiting Williams and Ashpaugh for the $10,000 hit. He was arrested on May 18, 2015, alongside Hamid, after police traced the $10,000 payment to his bank account. A cigarette butt with his DNA found at the body dump site near Old Scenic Highway further implicated him.
Initially charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and arson (for burning Tahereh’s car). In 2018, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a deal to testify against Hamid, reducing his charges. Prosecutors highlighted his role in planning the abduction and disposing of the body, though he remained in the car during the shooting.
As of May 2025, Robert Richter, now approximately 43, is serving a 30-year sentence in a Louisiana state prison, likely the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, with eligibility for parole after serving a portion of his term (typically 85% under Louisiana law, around 25.5 years).
Skyler Williams
Skyler Williams, born around 1998, was a 17-year-old acquaintance of Richter with a minor criminal record. He participated in the abduction of Tahereh Ghassemi. He was arrested on May 19, 2015, after Richter’s confession named him as a co-conspirator. Police linked him to the crime via phone records showing calls with Richter and a .38-caliber handgun traced to him, though not recovered.
Charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and arson. On March 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, avoiding a murder trial. His plea deal details are sealed, but prosecutors noted his active role in the abduction and body disposal, though he did not fire the fatal shot. Sentenced to 30 years in prison on September 1, 2023, with parole eligibility after about 25.5 years. As of May 2025, Skyler Williams, now approximately 27, is serving a 30-year sentence in a Louisiana state prison, likely the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, with potential parole eligibility after about 25.5 years.
Tyler Lee Ashpaugh
Tyler Ashpaugh, born around 1995, was a 20-year-old Baton Rouge resident with a minor criminal record when recruited by Skyler Williams in early 2015. Described as impressionable, he was drawn into the plot through Williams’ connection to Robert Richter, a longtime employee of Hamid Ghassemi.
Baton Rouge Police arrested Ashpaugh on May 19, 2015, on Richter and Williams’ statements after they were arrested and confessed. Surveillance cameras in a gas station close to the crime scene took footage of a car associated with Ashpaugh, and call records verified his contact with the group, which cemented his involvement.
Ashpaugh was sent to 40 years in prison in August 2018, to be eligible for parole after about 34 years according to Louisiana law. Yet on January 27, 2023, he died at the age of 28 in Angola’s Louisiana State Penitentiary due to a fentanyl overdose, before any final sentencing revisions or appeals.
Watch Dateline’s episode The Ultimate Betrayal streaming on NBC.
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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