Hollywood Horror: Woman Sentenced to 35 Years for Consultant Slaying
In a plot twist that even Hollywood couldn’t script, a woman who pleaded guilty to the murder of entertainment consultant and social justice advocate Michael Latt was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
Jameelah Elena Michl, who had been stalking and threatening film director A.V. Rockwell, apparently targeted Latt because he was Rockwell’s friend. Prosecutors and police said Michl pleaded guilty last month to first-degree murder and first-degree burglary for the November attack.
Latt, whose company championed social impact in film and entertainment, had worked with big names like Ava DuVernay of "Selma" fame and Ryan Coogler of "Black Panther." His untimely death was a blow felt throughout Tinseltown.
“As a tireless advocate for social justice, Mr. Latt championed equality, justice, and equity in our criminal legal system,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. “Mr. Latt’s ability to uplift the community left an indelible mark. His legacy will continue to inspire us to strive for a more just and inclusive society.”
Prosecutors alleged that on November 27, 2023, Michl knocked on Latt’s Los Angeles home door, forced her way in, and fatally shot him with a semi-automatic handgun. Latt was declared dead at the hospital.
In a bittersweet turn of events, Latt’s mother, Michelle Satter, received an honorary Oscar weeks later for her work as a founding director of the Sundance Institute. The ceremony became a tribute to her son, with Coogler presenting the award and describing Latt as Satter’s “greatest gift to the world.” Satter shared the award with Latt, who she said always “led with love.”
Michl’s public defender, Kimberly Wong, read a statement for her client during Wednesday’s proceedings, noting that Michl had changed her plea to guilty to take responsibility for her actions. Wong added, “At the time of the shooting, she had been homeless on the streets of Los Angeles for nine months and struggling with multiple traumatic events. She is deeply saddened by the tremendous amount of pain she has caused to so many and hopes that her change in plea will help everyone to be able to heal and move forward.”
In a tragic saga worthy of a Hollywood film, this real-life drama leaves us all hoping for a more just and peaceful resolution.