Estranged husband convicted of murder-for-hire in killing of New York City art dealer in Brazil
NBC News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Daniel Sikkema, 55, was convicted in Manhattan federal court for hiring a hitman to murder his estranged husband, Brent Sikkema, who was found stabbed to death in Rio de Janeiro in January 2024.
- Daniel faces a mandatory life sentence and was arrested in April 2024; prosecutors presented evidence of him funneling money to the hitman and boasting about financial gain from Brent’s death.
- Brent Sikkema was a prominent New York City art dealer who owned the Sikkema Malloy Jenkins gallery and had a multimillion-dollar estate; the couple had a teenage son.
- The alleged hitman remains jailed in Brazil, and Daniel’s lawyer announced plans to appeal, arguing the case was based on circumstantial evidence without proof of guilt.
- Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton condemned the murder as cold-blooded and said the verdict delivers justice, while Daniel’s defense maintains he hopes to be vindicated.