Hervey Medellin, 66 (KTLA News) |
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HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KTLA) -- The boyfriend of the man found dismembered along a Hollywood Hills hiking train is speaking out, saying he's afraid for his life.
Through his screen door, the boyfriend of the victim, 66-year-old Hervey Medellin, expressed his fear to KTLA.
"I'm afraid for my life," said the boyfriend, who identified himself only as 'Gabriel.'
"You know this area -- I'm afraid they'll come back and do something to me."
Gabriel wouldn't elaborate and wouldn't allow a KTLA camera into his apartment, which he had shared with Medellin for the past year.
Police have questioned the boyfriend several times, but he is reportedly not a suspect, or even a person of interest in the homicide.
He was reportedly concerned about Medellin's whereabouts a week before his head, hands and feet were found in Bronson Canyon Park.
Sources say he filed a missing person's report on Jan. 9.
He says he last saw Medellin in December, when he told him he was going to Mexico.
Meantime, Christina Serenyo, Medellin's niece, told KTLA that the family is grief-stricken over the news, and has no idea what could have happened.
Serenyo plans to fly to L.A. on Friday to speak directly with investigators and her uncle's boyfriend.
She said she didn't even know her uncle was in a relationship until police notified her that he was dead.
Serenyo spoke with Gabriel by phone over the weekend.
"He was just very short, that's all I could say," Serenyo told KTLA. "I don't know if he was agitated... I can't even guess. I don't know what happened."
Several search warrants have been issued in the case, but no arrests have been made.
Detectives were at Medellin's apartment in the 6200 block of DeLongre Avenue for several hours on Saturday.
They took items from the home, and also impounded a car at the location.
Investigators previously served a search warrant at the apartment building on Thursday night, eventually towing a silver Honda from the building.
Andrew Hill, who lives on the second floor of the apartment building, told The Times he heard a lot of commotion on the floor above him at about 3 a.m. about three weeks ago.
He said he heard furniture moving as well as screaming and yelling.
He said he spoke to police detectives Thursday and they asked him when the garbage was taken out.
Coroner's officials say they were able to identify Medellin -- a retired Mexicana Airlines employee -- through fingerprints from one of the hands.
It remains unclear, however, if Medellin may have first been identified through a tip.
Police questioned at least one person on Thursday, and were looking to talk to at least one other man, according to the Times.
Detectives don't believe Medellin was murdered in his apartment, nor do they think he was killed at Bronson Canyon Park.
Investigators combed the park inch-by-inch last week after the initial discovery of a severed human head by two dog walkers on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, investigators using cadaver dogs recovered two hands and two feet.
In addition to scouring the park, police have questioned people who live in the area.
Neighbors said it's a popular trail, and that the unfolding murder mystery seemed unreal.
Through his screen door, the boyfriend of the victim, 66-year-old Hervey Medellin, expressed his fear to KTLA.
"I'm afraid for my life," said the boyfriend, who identified himself only as 'Gabriel.'
"You know this area -- I'm afraid they'll come back and do something to me."
Gabriel wouldn't elaborate and wouldn't allow a KTLA camera into his apartment, which he had shared with Medellin for the past year.
Police have questioned the boyfriend several times, but he is reportedly not a suspect, or even a person of interest in the homicide.
He was reportedly concerned about Medellin's whereabouts a week before his head, hands and feet were found in Bronson Canyon Park.
Sources say he filed a missing person's report on Jan. 9.
He says he last saw Medellin in December, when he told him he was going to Mexico.
Meantime, Christina Serenyo, Medellin's niece, told KTLA that the family is grief-stricken over the news, and has no idea what could have happened.
Serenyo plans to fly to L.A. on Friday to speak directly with investigators and her uncle's boyfriend.
She said she didn't even know her uncle was in a relationship until police notified her that he was dead.
Serenyo spoke with Gabriel by phone over the weekend.
"He was just very short, that's all I could say," Serenyo told KTLA. "I don't know if he was agitated... I can't even guess. I don't know what happened."
Several search warrants have been issued in the case, but no arrests have been made.
Detectives were at Medellin's apartment in the 6200 block of DeLongre Avenue for several hours on Saturday.
They took items from the home, and also impounded a car at the location.
Investigators previously served a search warrant at the apartment building on Thursday night, eventually towing a silver Honda from the building.
Andrew Hill, who lives on the second floor of the apartment building, told The Times he heard a lot of commotion on the floor above him at about 3 a.m. about three weeks ago.
He said he heard furniture moving as well as screaming and yelling.
He said he spoke to police detectives Thursday and they asked him when the garbage was taken out.
Coroner's officials say they were able to identify Medellin -- a retired Mexicana Airlines employee -- through fingerprints from one of the hands.
It remains unclear, however, if Medellin may have first been identified through a tip.
Police questioned at least one person on Thursday, and were looking to talk to at least one other man, according to the Times.
Detectives don't believe Medellin was murdered in his apartment, nor do they think he was killed at Bronson Canyon Park.
Investigators combed the park inch-by-inch last week after the initial discovery of a severed human head by two dog walkers on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, investigators using cadaver dogs recovered two hands and two feet.
In addition to scouring the park, police have questioned people who live in the area.
Neighbors said it's a popular trail, and that the unfolding murder mystery seemed unreal.
