World · North America · 5 hrs ago
Daniel Sikkema sentenced to life for Brent Sikkema’s murder
Daniel Sikkema was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murder-for-hire of his estranged husband, Brent Sikkema.
Brent was a 75-year-old New York art dealer and co-owner of the Manhattan gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Company.
Brent was stabbed to death in Rio de Janeiro in January 2024, while the couple’s divorce proceedings were under way.
A federal jury in New York found Daniel guilty in May of murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges after a two-week trial.
Prosecutors said Daniel hired former security guard Alejandro Prevez to carry out the killing and sent him money, including $5,000 shortly after the murder.
Prevez was arrested in Brazil four days later, and his case remains pending in Brazilian courts.
The life sentence holds Daniel accountable for the plot, while Prevez’s case is still awaiting a decision in Brazil.
Daniel Sikkema was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murder-for-hire killing of his estranged husband, New York art dealer Brent Sikkema.
A federal jury convicted Daniel Sikkema in May 2026 of three charges, and he was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Brent Sikkema, 75, was stabbed to death at his home in Rio de Janeiro in January 2024.
Prosecutors said Daniel Sikkema hired Alejandro Prevez to carry out the killing amid the couple’s divorce proceedings.
- Who
- Daniel Sikkema, the former husband of art dealer Brent Sikkema.
- What
- He was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot. He also received five years of supervised release.
- When
- The sentence was handed down on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- A federal court in Manhattan.
- Why
- Prosecutors said he arranged Brent Sikkema’s murder amid their divorce proceedings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Prosecutors said Daniel Sikkema began planning the murder amid his divorce from Brent Sikkema.
Brent Sikkema was stabbed to death at his home in Rio de Janeiro; sources give different dates for the killing.
Alejandro Prevez was arrested by Brazilian law enforcement, four days after the murder.
A federal jury convicted Daniel Sikkema after a two-week trial.
A federal court in Manhattan sentenced Daniel Sikkema to life in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Prison sentence
- Life
- Supervised release
- 5 years
- Victim
- Brent Sikkema, 75
- Murder location
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Sentence date
- November 4, 2026
- Accomplice
- Alejandro Prevez
3 sources
What people are saying
Today’s life sentence holds Daniel Sikkema accountable for a cold, calculated murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the murder of his husband, Brent Sikkema
For months, the defendant manipulated friends, family, and employees to execute a killing driven by greed. His actions demonstrated a profound disregard for human life and the rule of law