Two Israeli Men murdered in Los Angeles within 24 hours; Possible link under investigation

Los Angeles authorities are investigating two separate murders of Israeli men that occurred within 24 hours of each other, raising concerns and questions within the community. Though investigators have yet to establish a connection between the two cases, both incidents have prompted heightened police activity and public alert.

The first victim, Alexander Modvedze, a 47-year-old Israeli-American entrepreneur, was killed during a violent home invasion at his Woodland Hills residence. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), three suspects, identified as Georgian nationals Fata Kochiashvili, 38; Zaza Otarashvili, 46; and Besiki Khotsishvili, 52, forcibly entered Modvedze’s home, held him captive for several hours, and subjected him to a brutal assault that ultimately led to his death. The assailants fled the scene with stolen valuables. With the assistance of the FBI, LAPD officers swiftly apprehended the suspects: Kochiashvili was arrested in Van Nuys, while Otarashvili and Khotsishvili were located in Glendale. All three are currently being held on $2 million bail each.

Authorities indicated that Modvedze appeared to have been deliberately targeted, as neighbors reported unfamiliar individuals entering his home late at night. Modvedze, who had lived in the Woodland Hills area for approximately 15 years, was well-regarded within the local Israeli community and described by neighbors as personable and friendly.

Later that same day, LAPD officers discovered the body of Manny Haidra, a well-known businessman and the brother of Lieutenant Gondar Moshe Haidra, director of Israel’s Nitzan Detention Center. Haidra was found dead in his Valley Village apartment on Riverside Drive after family members, concerned about his lack of communication, requested a welfare check. Responding officers found Haidra unresponsive, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and no suspects have yet been identified.

An LAPD spokesperson emphasized that although no immediate danger to the public has been identified, the suspect or suspects in Haidra’s case should be considered armed and dangerous. Authorities continue to investigate both murders and are actively exploring any potential links between the two incidents. As of now, no concrete evidence connects the cases.