Two Israeli nationals were found murdered in separate homes in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley on Saturday, with police confirming that the brutal killings occurred just hours apart. While authorities have not established a direct link between the homicides, the back-to-back murders have left the Jewish community on edge.
The victims have been identified as Alexander Modebadze, 47, and Meni Hidhra, reportedly the brother of the warden of Israel’s Nitzan Prison. LAPD responded around 1 a.m. Saturday to a home in Woodland Hills where Modebadze was discovered deceased after suffering severe head trauma. Police say he was tied up, held hostage, and beaten to death during a home invasion.
Three Georgian nationals—Paata Kochyashvili, 38; Zaza Otarashvili, 46; and Besiki Khutishvili, 52—were arrested in a joint LAPD-FBI task force operation. Authorities say the suspects also stole property from the victim’s home.
Just hours later, LAPD officers were called to an apartment in Valley Village for a welfare check. There they discovered the body of Meni Hidhra. While police have not revealed his cause of death, they confirmed the suspect in that case remains at large.
Despite the lack of a confirmed connection between the murders, members of the local Jewish community are deeply unsettled. “These do seem like targeted attacks,” said Jennifer Feldman of Valley Village. “Two men with ties to Israel killed on the same day feels frightening to say the least.”
Authorities have not commented on potential motives in either case. The investigation is ongoing, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
