Did Disputes Over 'Open Marriage' and Child Custody Lead to the Murder of a Wealthy Art Dealer?

Mar. 15, 2025

Brent Sikkema (left); and Daniel Carrera Sikkema.Photo:Madison McGaw/BFA/Shutterstock; Brent Sikkema/ Instagram

Madison McGaw/BFA/Shutterstock; Brent Sikkema/ Instagram

Federal prosecutors allege the estranged husband of a millionaire art dealer conspired to have him killed in Brazil over a child custody dispute, after the couple’s partnership reportedly began to sour over his suggestion they pursue an open marriage.

Brent Sikkema, 75, a multi-millionaire art dealer from New York, was killedin his Rio de Janeiro homeon Jan. 14, 2024. His estranged husband, 54-year-old Daniel Sikkema, has now been charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, theDepartment of Justice announcedthis week.

The charge came after Triana Prevez confessed to the murder, claiming he was hired to carry out the killing, local newspaperFolha de S.PauloandO Globoreported last year;Folhareported Daniel was named as the mastermind in the case.

Alejandro Triana Prevez.REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

The couple’s marriage appears to have taken a downturn a few years before the murder. The executor of Brent’s estate claimed in 2019 Daniel proposed the idea of an “open marriage,” which Brent did not want, per the complaint.

This caused their marriage to “deteriorate,” per the complaint, and in 2022, Daniel filed for divorce.

Things only went further downhill from there.

In the complaint, Brent’s executor accuses Daniel of trying to steal $200,000 from his ex’s bank account, and later disappearing for weeks with the couple’s child and “a large amount of luggage;” he allegedly claimed they were moving to Cuba, before eventually resurfacing in New York because they needed money.

Daniel’s lawyer Nicholas Kaizer denied the accusations to PEOPLE.

Brent Sikkema.WILL RAGOZZINO/Patrick McMullan via Getty

WILL RAGOZZINO/Patrick McMullan via Getty

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Daniel would later demand full custody of the child and $6,000,000 from his millionaire ex, but Brent rejected both demands, per the complaint.

Daniel has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a murder-for-hire, one count of murder-for-hire, one count of conspiracy to murder a person in a foreign county and one count of passport fraud, per the DoJ statement.

Daniel has pleaded not guilty to the charges, Kaizer tells PEOPLE.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com