Dino Guglielmelli is the former CEO of the California natural-supplement company Creation’s Garden who was arrested in 2013 for trying to hire a hit man to kill his estranged wife, model Monica Olsen, during their divorce. He pleaded no contest to second-degree attempted murder in June 2014 and was sentenced to nine years in state prison. He was paroled in September 2019 and finished parole on June 9, 2021.1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man
The Business He Built
Guglielmelli grew up in Walla Walla, Washington, and founded Creation’s Garden in Valencia, California, in 1993. At its peak the company employed more than 300 people, operated over 165,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and reported annual sales of roughly $50 million.2Hometown Station. Bankrupt Creations Garden to Be Sold; CEO Awaits Murder Trial It made dietary supplements, skincare, organic pet supplements, beverages, and energy shots that were sold at Target, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, and TJ Maxx.
He married Monica Olsen, a Canadian-born former New York fashion model, in 2004.3ABC7 Los Angeles. Secret Recordings Expose Murder Plot Olsen held a master’s degree in international finance and ran a skincare line, “Skin by Monica Olsen,” that Creation’s Garden distributed to drugstores.4ABC News. Model in Court Facing Estranged Husband Accused in Murder Plot They had two daughters and lived in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Divorce That Set It Off
Guglielmelli filed for divorce at the end of 2011.5CBS News. Hollywood Romance Turned Horror Story The fight centered on custody of their daughters and division of substantial assets. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, he feared losing custody and half of his wealth.
In January 2012, Olsen was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge after Guglielmelli called police following an argument and showed officers a small scratch. He used the arrest to obtain a restraining order and held full custody of the girls for 13 months before the charges against Olsen were dropped for lack of evidence.1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man
The Murder-for-Hire Plot
Starting around 2012, Guglielmelli began pressuring his friend and business associate Richard Fuhrmann, who had a military background, to kill Olsen. Fuhrmann later told investigators the requests escalated from planting drugs in Olsen’s car, to having her beaten, to killing her in Mexico in a way that would look drug-related. Guglielmelli specified he wanted the killing to involve rape and beheading.6CBS News. The Millionaire, The Model and The Hit Man Fuhrmann told 48 Hours that Guglielmelli “wanted her dead and he didn’t care how it was done.”7Paramount Press Express. 48 Hours: The Millionaire, The Model and The Hit Man
Fuhrmann said he never meant to go through with it. He stalled with fabricated stories, then went to Olsen’s divorce attorney and began cooperating with law enforcement.
The Wire
On October 1, 2013, Fuhrmann wore a wire to a lunch meeting with Guglielmelli at a Thai restaurant. Fuhrmann offered multiple chances to back out. When he asked, “You want her dead, 100 percent?” Guglielmelli answered, “Why wouldn’t I?” and agreed to pay $80,000 for the hit.3ABC7 Los Angeles. Secret Recordings Expose Murder Plot Told the killing would happen that day while Olsen was supposedly in Mexico, Guglielmelli said he preferred not to know the details and would “read about it in the paper.”
He was arrested at his Valencia home the next day, October 2, 2013, in front of his daughters, and held on $10 million bail he could not post.1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man On December 18, 2013, a judge found sufficient evidence to hold him for trial.2Hometown Station. Bankrupt Creations Garden to Be Sold; CEO Awaits Murder Trial
Plea and Nine-Year Sentence
On June 13, 2014, Guglielmelli pleaded no contest to second-degree attempted murder, reduced from first-degree attempted murder.8ABC7 Los Angeles. Model Murder Plot: Man Gets 9 Years in Prison His attorney, Anthony Brooklier, said the plea avoided a possible life sentence and described the recorded statements as things said in high emotion that his client later regretted.9CBS News Los Angeles. Canyon Country Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Trying to Arrange Wife’s Murder Brooklier had earlier called Fuhrmann an “agent provocateur.”10New York Daily News. Vitamin Mogul Gets 9 Years in California Prison for Plotting Ex-Wife’s Murder
On June 18, 2014, a Los Angeles court sentenced him to nine years in state prison, and because he accepted the plea deal he could not appeal.11Los Angeles Times. Former Owner of Natural Supplement Company Pleads No Contest He was sent to Corcoran State Prison. Prosecutor Emily Cole acknowledged Fuhrmann was a “chameleon” and “phony” whose credibility could be attacked at trial, but said the audio was the case. Guglielmelli’s brother Emilio, after hearing the tapes, conceded Dino “made it clear more than once that he wanted her dead.” Fuhrmann was never charged. Olsen opposed the plea, telling reporters, “I think my life is worth more than that.”1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man
What Happened to Creation’s Garden
Creation’s Garden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 20, 2013, weeks after the arrest.2Hometown Station. Bankrupt Creations Garden to Be Sold; CEO Awaits Murder Trial The assets, including more than $8 million in inventory, intellectual property, brand names, and manufacturing equipment, were auctioned in February 2014. On February 20, 2014, Robinson Pharma Inc. announced it had acquired them, absorbing the liquid, powder, and cosmetics manufacturing capabilities into its own operations. The purchase price was not disclosed.12New Hope Network. Robinson Pharma Acquires Creations Garden Assets
48 Hours and His Denial
CBS’s 48 Hours aired “The Millionaire, The Model & The Hit Man” on January 31, 2015, hosted by Troy Roberts, with interviews from Olsen, Fuhrmann, Guglielmelli’s brothers Gino and Emilio, and his first ex-wife Leitia Devine.7Paramount Press Express. 48 Hours: The Millionaire, The Model and The Hit Man By phone from Corcoran, Guglielmelli maintained his innocence and said he had been conned, telling Roberts, “I know what the tape appears to be like, but I didn’t take any of it seriously.”1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man
Release and Where Things Stand
Guglielmelli was paroled in September 2019 after serving more than six years, and his parole ended on June 9, 2021.1CBS News. The Millionaire, the Model and the Hit Man No public reporting has documented further legal actions, business activity, or criminal charges involving him since that date. Olsen kept full custody of their daughters and said she intended to use the experience to educate others, while telling 48 Hours she remained wary of his resourcefulness.