Estranged Husband of NYC Art Dealer Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot

Daniel Sikkema is accused of orchestrating the murder of Brent Sikkema in Brazil during a contentious divorce involving custody and financial disputes.

Brent Sikkema, a 75-year-old New York art dealer, was found stabbed to death in his Rio de Janeiro townhouse in January 2024, suffering 18 stab wounds.
Federal prosecutors allege that Daniel Sikkema, his estranged husband, hired Alejandro Triana Prevez, a Cuban national, to carry out the murder for $200,000, using stolen identities to conceal payments.
The couple's relationship had deteriorated over disputes about an open marriage, custody of their child, and financial disagreements, including Daniel's demand for $6 million, which Brent rejected.
Alejandro Triana Prevez, who had previously worked as Brent's bodyguard, was arrested days after the murder and confessed to the crime, claiming he was hired by Daniel Sikkema.
Daniel Sikkema has been indicted on multiple charges, including murder-for-hire, conspiracy to murder in a foreign country, and passport fraud, facing life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.