O.J. Simpson Associate’s Brother Claims He Had Bloody Hands on Night of Murders

More than three decades after the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, there are questions about whether O.J. Simpson received help while trying to dispose of evidence. Sam Ippolito, the brother of Simpson associate Joseph “Joey” Ippolito, claims Joey came back to their apartment on the night of the murders with blood on his hands and a heavy bag.

The allegations emerged in an investigation by The New York Times published on October 18, 2026. The newspaper checked previously sealed federal court records and spoke with people involved in the case. However, the claims remain unproven, and Sam later attempted to withdraw his account. 

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According to Sam’s initial account, Joey left the apartment on the evening of June 12, 1994, saying he was going to help a friend. He returned around midnight carrying a bag containing what Sam described as a heavy object.

Sam alleged that his brother appeared to have blood on his hands, removed his clothes and placed them inside the bag before asking him to dispose of it. Sam said he threw the bag into a dumpster near a construction site along Doheny Drive in Los Angeles. The contents were never independently confirmed.

Sam also claimed he overheard Joey speaking with Al Cowlings, Simpson’s longtime friend, about helping Simpson that night. These allegations have caused speculation about whether another person helped Simpson while disposing evidence. 

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Joey Ippolito was a convicted drug trafficker with connections to organised crime. He knew Simpson through Cowlings, who drove Simpson’s white Ford Bronco. 

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Joey had escaped from a Florida prison in May 1994. Authorities arrested him in August 1995, and he subsequently became a federal informant.

New court records revealed that Joey provided information relevant to the Simpson investigation, including details concerning the alleged disposal of the murder weapon. The weapon was never recovered.

A December 1996 federal prosecution memorandum described Joey as a valuable source of information. However, he was never called to testify at the trial. Former federal prosecutor David Kelley, who worked with Joey, said he did not believe Joey was involved in the murders. Former lead prosecutor Marcia Clark also said she had not known about Joey and questioned whether the allegations would have been credible enough to reach her.

Photo: Getty Images

Sam’s credibility is also an issue. According to the newspaper’s , he sought payment for his story and later tried to retract his allegations after the newspaper declined. He  said he could no longer distinguish between his memories and confusion surrounding the events.

Retired Los Angeles Police Department detective Tom Lange also rejected the accomplice theory. He believes there was no evidence connecting Joey to the killings. The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that the case remains open and that investigators will examine new leads. 

The latest allegations have reopened questions about the missing murder weapon and the handling of evidence. However, the claims against Joey remain unverified, and the available information does not establish that he helped Simpson conceal evidence or took part in the killings.