Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Police Haul Away Evidence From Apartment of Decapitated Victim Hervey Medellin, But Keep Mum on Details of Investigation

Screenshot (KTLA)

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

Police searched the apartment of Hervey Medellin, whose head was discovered by a dogwalker in the Hollywood Hills this week. They hauled away Medellin's car and other belongings in the hopes of finding clues that will explain who might have done the gory deed.

Medellin lived in an apartment on DeLongpre Avenue in Hollywood not far from Griffith Park where his severed hands, feet and head were found. On Saturday, police seized items from the man's apartment including a car, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Police are keeping mum about details, like what they might have seized from the man's apartment or any working theories about the case. Yesterday, police told the Associated Press that they didn't have any suspects in the case but today's report in the Times says that one person was questioned by detectives on Thursday and detectives were speaking to another man. (Unfortunately, that description is vague and doesn't indicate whether these people were being questioned as possible suspects—or just close friends, neighbors or family of Medellin who might shed light on what happened.)

Neighbors and friends have been sharing information about Medellin's background: Medellin was a retired Mexicana airlines employee, who had worked for the airline for 20 years. He has divorced for about 10 years, and he was childless, CBS News reported. He collected art and sold cars. Medellin had recently been on vacation in Tijuana, and some friends told CBS that they were worried that they hadn't heard from him.

Medellin also lived with a male roommate, who was questioned, NBC reported. A friend of Medellin's Vilma Aguilar told CBS that he met his roommate while on a hike in Griffith Park.

Medellin used to own a condominium with another person in Los Feliz, the Times reports. An anonymous neighbor who lived near him at the Los Feliz condo told CBS Medellin was a good-hearted neighbor. He speculated that someone might have taken advantage of Medellin's sweet nature.

Another neighbor Andrew Hill who lived on the second floor of the building told the Times that he heard a commotion on the floor above him around 3 am three weeks ago, which he told police. The neighbor said he heard yelling, screaming and furniture being moved. He also told police, which day was garbage day (a detail that has been often-repeated through press accounts).

Sponsored message

The best Hollywood detail from the story is that Brad Pitt's bodyguard (not Pitt himself, as others reported) was questioned. Pitt and Angelina have a home nearby, so police came to their door during the investigation—along with other neighbors who lived in the area near where the body parts were found, the New York Daily News reported.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right