Murder Suspect in Valley Village Bride-to-Be Case Is Arrested

Omar Armando Loera, the man suspected of  committing the brutal stabbing of  34-year-old Cheree Osmanhodzic at her Valley Village apartment in July, was arrested Tuesday in Mexico.

"We think we got him," said an officer at the North Hollywood Police Division Tuesday evening.

The lead detective on the case, Lt. Alan Hamilton, flew to Mexico to confirm the identity of the suspect, who was expected to be turned over to U.S. authorities late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

"Based on a variety of tips and leads, homicide detectives developed a strong suspicion that Loera had escaped to Mexico," a police press release said.

Homicide detectives notified U.S. Marshals who worked with Mexican law enforcement in the search for Loera, 34.  On Tuesday, "the Baja State Police located a suspect believed to be Loera in the border town of Mexicali," police said.

A press conference has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the North Hollywood Division. Cheree's family and friends, who have been persistent in trying to keep media attention on finding her killer, are expected to attend.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who pushed for a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of Cheree's killer, was notified of the arrest Tuesday evening, said his communications director, Jeremy Oberstein

The slaying occurred on July 24. At about 7 p.m. Cheree's fiance, Adam Culvey, came home to the apartment they shared in the 11500 block of Riverside Drive and saw a man inside the residence. The man fled and, although Culvey chased him for several blocks through the neighborhood, he got away. When Culvey returned to the apartment, it was in flames and Cheree was found dead.

Police said Cheree had been stabbed multiple times, and there was no evidence of sexual assault. There also was no evidence of a break-in or robbery, and nothing to indicate she had been stalked or that she knew the suspect, police said.

After DNA evidence collected at the crime scene was tied to Loera, police said, an arrest warrant was issued on Sept. 16.

Police followed up on several reports from people who claimed to have seen Loera, who has tattoos of two large Aztec women on his arms and shoulders. One report led to an afternoon-long search in Fryman Canyon on Sept. 17. At least two tips came from Studio City Patch readers who said they saw a man matching the description of the suspect.  

Police said Loera, who was born on the same day as his alleged victim, apparently remained in the area for some time, and may have been collecting cans from trash bins and begging for money. But then a variety of tips and leads indicated that he had fled to Mexico. 

Loera has lived in the North Hollywood area in recent years, police said. He also has a criminal record with five prior convictions, including transporting methamphetamine and assault with a deadly weapon. He was on parole for a robbery in North Hollywood Park at the time of the slaying.