Dateline NBC episode The Ultimate Betrayal has reportedly explored the mysterious 2015 disappearance and murder of Tahereh Ghassemi. The case led to her 72-year-old ex-husband, Hamid Ghassemi's conviction of first-degree murder in August 2023.
As reported by Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning, it was a murder-for-hire case and Hamid paid $10,000 to three hitmen to get the job done. Tahereh was abducted on April 11, 2015, and was taken to a woods near St. Helena Parish. Later she was shot in the head by one of the hitmen.
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Tahereh Ghassemi was reportedly entitled to receive $1.1 million and some property from her ex-husband from a divorce settlement. It was eventually proved by the investigators that Hamid killed his wife to avoid paying the amount. The official synopsis of The Ultimate Betrayal reads:
"After Tahereh Ghassemi disappears from the Louisiana home she shares with her adult son, detectives discover that she'd recently come into a great deal of money; the investigation reveals an astonishing plot with international implications."
Disclaimer: This article contains descriptions of murder. Please be advised.
The Ultimate Betrayal on Dateline: 5 harrowing details about the murder of Tahereh Ghassemi
1) Tahereh Ghassemi went missing on April 11, 2015
As reported on Dateline, 54-year-old Tahereh Ghassemi came from Iran and settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She lived with her 38-year-old son Hamed and the two would often make plans for dinner together.
On the night of April 11, 2015, Hamed did not have dinner with his mother and instead, went out with his friends for a few drinks. When he returned home, he found a pot of rice still cooking on the stove but there was no sign of his mother.
Hamed thought that she must be spending the night with her friends. But Tahereh did not come back home the next day. A worried Hamed called her friends but no one had heard anything from her. Tahereh Ghassemi was eventually reported missing.
2) Tahereh was abducted and killed by three hitmen
Tahereh Ghassemi was kidnapped from her North Laurel Creek home by three hitmen - Tyler Ashpaugh, Skyler Williams, and Daniel Richter. She was then placed in the trunk of a car and taken to a wooded area near St. Helena Parish.
They had also given her insulin shots after abducting her. The drug gave her seizures and she eventually lost control of herself. The hitmen also confessed to digging a grave in the woods to bury her, before they came to her house
As per reports, she was shot by Ashpaugh from point-blank range with a 22-caliber revolver. Later, they buried her body in the woods and also torched her car in Choctaw Drive, Baton Rouge. Further investigation revealed that the three hitmen were hired by Tareheh's husband Hamed, who had reportedly paid them $10,000 to kill her.
3) A troubled marriage and divorce cost Tahereh her life
Tahereh and Hamid were going through a troubled marriage and the former filed for a divorce on May 22, 2026. As a part of the divorce settlement, Hamid was to give $1.1 million to his ex-wife along with two houses.
An angry and disturbed Hamid reportedly started plotting ways to kill Tahereh. According to testimonies provided by one of the hired hitmen, Hamid also wanted to remove their son Hamed from the picture.
4) Hamid Ghassemi was eventually convicted of his ex-wife's murder-for-hire
According to Dateline, Hamid Ghassemi was eventually convicted of murder-for-hire of his ex-wife Tahereh Ghassemi. Hamid was charged with first-degree murder in August 2023. Later, on September 19, 2023, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ritcher further added that Hamid gave him and his accomplices $10,000 to murder his wife. Based on his statements and other crucial evidence, Hamid was arrested and is currently being held at the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
5) One of the convicted hitmen passed away in custody
The three hitmen hired by Hamid - Daniel Richter, Skyler Williams, and Tyler Ashpaugh were found guilty of plotting, kidnapping, and murdering Tahereh Ghassemi. Ritcher and Williams were charged with first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping and arson, as described in the Dateline episode.
However, they pled guilty to reduced manslaughter charges. Currently, Williams and Richter are serving their sentence of 30 years in prison. Tyler, who was looking at 40 years of imprisonment, passed away in January 2023 while serving his sentence.
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