The suspect in custody of the horrifying murder that rattled a luxury volleyball village apartment in April is linked to two additional violent crimes dating back to 2022, police have confirmed.
A source with the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA on Wednesday that further evidence shows that 27-year-old Eric Escamilla is responsible for the 2022 attempted murder in San Fernando and the brutal stab wounds and fires of an 81-year-old Woodland Hills woman.
Valley Village Murder Investigation Caused Community Anger
Escamilla was arrested in early May following a nearly two-week manhunt after 53-year-old Menache “Manny” Hydra died inside his apartment on May 26th.
Residents reported hearing screams and loud crashing noises around 3am on April 23, coming from 514 units on the top floor of Ashton Sherman Village Apartment in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive. Audio obtained by KTLA can be heard as the LAPD dispatcher relayed similar reports to executives at the time.
Investigators say Escamilla broke into the building through the skylight, crossed between the balconies and forced her to take the path to Hydra’s apartment, where a fatal physical altercation took place. Authorities say Escamilla used the driver in the attack.
The suspect was seen in surveillance footage trying to enter the apartment on April 23, 2025. (Viewer Image) A suspect seen in surveillance footage of attempting to enter the apartment on April 23, 2025 (viewer Image) A suspect in the murder of a 53-year-old man from a volleyball village seen in conjunction with the apartment in which the murder took place. (KTLA) What appears to be bloodstains on the exterior of the building between the balcony of an empty apartment and the balcony of the victim. (Viewer Photo) An clearly bloody door handle leading to the exterior staircase. (Viewer Photo) A broken security FOB found on a door leading to the outside of the building. (Viewer photos)
As the murder investigation unfolded, bloody crime scene photos and cold surveillance footage emerged, and even more surprising residents emerged. The home security video appears to show Escamilla walking around the hallway, attempting to break into multiple units shortly before the attack.
Tenants at the high-end complex have since expressed anger over construction management, citing ongoing security concerns that precede the murders. Several invasions were reported after the murder.
Suspects related to brutal forest hill killing 81-year-old woman
Escamilla is currently suspected in the 2022 murder of 81-year-old Ok Ja Kim. The murder was discovered on August 2nd after a fire broke out at her home in the 20,800 block of West Martha Street in Woodland Hills. Authorities say she was stabbed, strangled and burned, and her burnt body was found pinched under her bed.
Investigators believe that someone forced Kim’s house to do their own way, plundering it, and killing her.
“I have worked in murder for many years, and it’s more than investigating violent crimes, and I can honestly say that I have never seen such a pointless, brutal murder in my entire career.”
Kim’s daughter, Clara Kim, spoke publicly after her mother’s death, urged the public to help resolve the case. “Whose family could have been, this could have been your mom, this could have been your dad,” she said. Clara describes her mother as selfless and says her family was “paralysed” by loss. “We’ve still awakened to this day and I think this is still a dream.”
OK JA Kim can be seen in undated photos provided by her family on October 20, 2022. (KTLA)
At the time, LAPD announced a $50,000 reward for information about the incident and asked anyone with surveillance footage or knowledge of the incident to come.
DA adds 2022 cases to Volleyball Village Murder Suspect file
The Woodland Hills murder and San Fernando attempts were both formally filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and added to Escamilla, which is already facing in the Valley Village case. Police have not released any further details regarding the San Fernando incident.
On May 9, DA’s office announced that Escamilla had been charged with one count of murder.
He also faced a count of first-degree home robbery felony. If convicted, Escamilla will face death or life in a state prison without the possibility of parole. The decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
However, authorities have not stated how the additional charges will affect Escamilla’s potential sentence.
Anyone with information about the investigation is advised to contact the Valley Bureau Murder at LAPD at 818-374-9550. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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