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Man Whose Body Parts Were Found Near Hollywood Sign Was Local Resident

Detectives are still searching for suspects in the murder and dismemberment of a 66-year-old Hollywood resident whose head, hands and feet were found last week off a trail near the Hollywood sign.

The victim lived in an apartment building on DeLongpre Avenue near Vine Street in Hollywood. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The victim, identified as Hervey Medellin, was reported missing eight days before his head was discovered on Jan. 17 by two women walking nine dogs on a trail in Bronson Canyon Park near the 3200 block of Canyon Drive. One of the dogs found a plastic bag containing the head, and the women notified police. An extensive investigation ensued, and on Jan. 18, the victim’s hands and feet were located in a shallow grave near the location where the head was found. Authorities searched the area until Friday, when Bronson Canyon park was reopened. Los Angeles County Coroner’s officials identified Medellin through fingerprints and other tests, but officials are still searching for the rest of his body. Officer Norma Eisenman, a spokesperson for the LAPD, said Wednesday no updates were available, and officials are not discussing the case because of the ongoing investigation.

Medellin, a retired Mexicana Airlines employee, had reportedly been living with his boyfriend at an apartment building 6238 DeLongpre Ave. The Los Angeles Times has reported that Medellin’s partner said the victim left the apartment on Dec. 26, but he had spoke to Medellin as recently as Jan. 4, and reported him missing on Jan. 9 after he lost contact.

The door to the building where Medellin and his partner reportedly shared a third-floor apartment had a no trespassing sign posted on Monday. A DeLongpre Avenue resident named Raul who lives nearby but declined to give his last name, said he did not know Medellin, but is concerned about the murder.

“It’s pretty scary not knowing what happened,” he said. “It’s a pretty quiet neighborhood.”

He added, however, that there was a lot of police activity at the building last week when investigators served a search warrant at the apartment. Detectives reportedly towed a silver Honda from the building last Thursday as part of the investigation. Although authorities are looking into whether Medellin was killed by someone he knew, they are also probing all other possibilities, and no arrests have been made. The LAPD would not confirm or deny whether Medellin’s partner is a suspect.

It was uncertain how long Medellin had lived at the apartment on DeLongpre, but it was reported that he had formerly owned a condominium in the Los Feliz area. Medellin also reportedly used to hike in the Hollywood Hills near where the body parts were found.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division at (213)486-6890.

Tags | Beheading, Bronson Canyon Park, Hervey Medellin, Murder