News Releases

Erick Escamilla accused of fatally stabbing victim with a screwdriver

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that a man has been charged with murdering a 53-year-old man whose body was found inside his Valley Village apartment last month.

“No one should have to endure the terror of someone breaking into their home, where people feel the safest and being brutally murdered,” District Attorney Hochman said.  “Crimes like this shake our collective sense of security. We will seek justice for the victim’s family and ensure accountability for the person responsible for this vicious crime.”

Erick Escamilla (dob 10/7/97) was charged in case 25CJCF02553 with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed during a burglary. He also faces one felony count of first-degree residential burglary.

The complaint also alleges that Escamilla personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a screwdriver, to commit the crime, and that he has previously been convicted of residential burglary in 2019.

The case was filed for warrant on May 8. Arraignment will be scheduled for a later date.

On April 23, at about 3:50 a.m., Escamilla is accused of breaking into an apartment complex in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive and fatally stabbing Menashe Hidra with a screwdriver. Three days later, a welfare check was conducted at Hidra’s apartment where police found the victim.

If convicted as charged, Escamilla faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made a later date.

The case will be prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Chung of the Major Crimes Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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