Daniel Sikkema, 55, was convicted Friday in federal court in Manhattan for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, following the killing of his estranged husband, prominent New York City art dealer Brent Sikkema. He faces a mandatory life sentence.
The Crime
Brent Sikkema, 75, was found stabbed to death in his Rio de Janeiro townhouse in January 2024. Daniel Sikkema, a dual U.S. and Cuban citizen residing in New York, was arrested in April 2024. The alleged hitman was arrested in Brazil and remains jailed there.
Prosecution's Case
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, "Amid contentious divorce proceedings with his then-husband, Daniel Sikkema used a burner phone line to callously order the killing of his husband." He described the murder as "senseless, cold-blooded" and said the verdict brings "a meaningful measure of justice."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Pavlis told the jury that Daniel Sikkema funneled over $10,000 to the hitman and promised more. He also bragged that he would get more money from his spouse's death than from a divorce. The couple had a teenage son.
Defense's Argument
Daniel Sikkema's lawyer, Florian Miedel, expressed disappointment and plans to appeal. "Daniel is staying strong and hopes to be vindicated in the end," Miedel said. He argued the case was based on circumstantial evidence, stating, "Life is messy. The truth is not always obvious."
Victim's Background
Brent Sikkema amassed a multimillion-dollar estate and owned a Manhattan contemporary art gallery, Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, which has represented international artists like Kara Walker, Vik Muniz, and Arturo Herrera for nearly 30 years. He began his career in 1971 at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York, and opened his first gallery in Boston in 1976.
In 2021, during a trip to Zurich, Switzerland, Sikkema described himself on Instagram as a "chaos kind of guy" and said Brazil and Cuba were his preferred destinations.
