An alleged ex-con suspected of entering another man’s apartment in Valley Village through a skylight in an adjacent vacant unit and killing him was in custody Friday in a local hospital, where he was being treated for an unspecified medical issue.
Erick Escamilla, 27, was located Thursday at the hospital and booked Friday in connection with the April 23 killing of 53-year-old Menashe Hidra, who was also known as Manny, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Although the killing occurred around 3 a.m. April 23, Hidra’s body was not found until 2:30 p.m. April 26, when police made a welfare check at the apartment in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive, between Whitsett and Coldwater Canyon avenues. Hidra was pronounced dead at the scene.
LAPD officers who originally responded April 23 to reports of fight inside Hidra’s fifth-floor apartment did not discover the body because they got no response to a knock on the door and they did not enter the apartment.
“I want to acknowledge that there are questions surrounding the initial police response to the incident,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said during a Friday news conference. “The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of these circumstances and we’ve initiated an internal administrative investigation to examine all facets of that. We’re unable to comment or provide details at this time since the investigation is ongoing.”
Escamilla remained hospitalized as of Friday, according to LAPD homicide Lt. Guy Golan.
“I cannot comment specifically on his condition, however, he is currently receiving medical treatment,” Golan said. “We are currently in the process of absentee booking Escamilla. When deemed appropriate by medical personnel, he will be discharged from the hospital and later presented for arraignment.”
According to Golan, Escamilla accessed the roof of the apartment building and used a skylight to enter the apartment next door to Hidra’s unit. Escamilla then climbed from the balcony of the vacant unit to the one attached to Hidra’s apartment and went inside, leading to a “violent confrontation” with the victim.
Escamilla was charged Thursday with one count each of murder and residential burglary. The murder charge includes a special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a burglary, along with allegations that he personally used a screwdriver in attacking the victim and that he has a prior strike for a residential burglary.
Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Escamilla.
McDonnell credited the work of homicide investigators and cooperation with the FBI Fugitive Task Force for locating the suspect.
“Over the past several weeks, investigators, forensic experts and technical personnel have worked tirelessly to gather evidence and pursue every lead,” McDonnell said. “This includes interviewing witnesses, securing warrants, using advanced technologies and ensuring that no stone was left unturned in the pursuit of justice.”
It was unclear how long Escamilla has been hospitalized.
Anyone with information regarding the killing was urged to call Valley Bureau homicide detectives at 818-374-9550. Calls during non-business hours should be made to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
The LAPD is also conducting an internal investigation into the initial police response to a second killing in the San Fernando Valley, that of Aleksandre Modebadze in Woodland Hills. Police who initially responded to that reported assault April 26 also knocked on the door but got no response and did not enter the home. The victim’s body was found when officers returned later that day.
Three men have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Modebadeze’s killing.