Valley Village apartment murder suspect arrested after days-long search

Murder suspect arrested in Valley Village

Police have arrested the suspect accused of murdering Manny Hidra in his apartment at the Sherman Village Apartments in Valley Village.

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police have arrested a man wanted in connection to an apartment murder in the San Fernando Valley.

The backstory:

Back on April 26, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call from an apartment complex in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village.

Upon arrival, officers found a man – later identified as 53-year-old Manny Hidra – dead inside the home from unknown injuries. 

Manny Hidra / FOX 11 provided photo 

In a statement, the LAPD said an investigation revealed the suspect had accessed Hidra's home through a skylight in an adjacent vacant apartment and crossing the balconies.

What we know:

Fast-forward to Thursday, May 8, a source tells FOX 11 that LAPD has since made an arrest in connection to Hidra's death.

The suspect was identified as Erick Escamilla, 27. 

During the early stages of the investigation, LAPD had said the suspect and Hidra were believed to be strangers and did not know each other prior to the murder.

Man found dead in LA apartment; Suspect on the run

The search is on for the murder suspect after a man was found dead inside a San Fernando Valley apartment complex.

Escamilla was located at a hospital where he was receiving care for an unspecified medical issue.

What we don't know:

Escamilla's condition is unknown and it's unclear why he is receiving treatment.

What they're saying:

At least half a dozen residents have expressed concerns over their safety in the complex. 

FOX 11 has reached out to the property owner, Essex Properties, for a statement but has not heard back.

What's next:

Escamilla was charged Thursday with murder and residential burglary, according to Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum. The murder charge includes a
special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a burglary, along with allegations that he personally used a screwdriver in attacking the victim and that he has a prior strike for a residential burglary.