A Santa Monica man facing charges for the alleged kidnapping of a UCLA student and the rape of another woman has died by suicide, authorities confirmed.
Alexander Schecter, 26, was found unresponsive at his family's residence on Monday evening. He was reportedly out on bail and had a preliminary court hearing scheduled for Tuesday regarding the charges filed in April. The Santa Monica Police Department stated there were no indications of foul play in his death.
Schecter was arrested in March after allegedly preventing two female students from leaving his vehicle and threatening them. During the subsequent investigation, authorities identified him as the suspect in a sexual assault that occurred near Culver City in October. He was subsequently charged with kidnapping to commit another crime, residential robbery, forcible oral copulation, and rape.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office released Schecter’s name and confirmed the manner of death as suicide on Tuesday. His attorney, Debra S. White, issued a statement suggesting that the case highlights concerns about the "Me Too" movement and the potential for accusations to cause significant damage before a full understanding of the facts emerges. White also stated that Schecter had autism spectrum disorder and anxiety, and that the evidence was more complex than initially reported.
Schecter's family, through his attorney, also criticized the handling of the case by the L.A. County District Attorney's office, specifically objecting to statements released earlier this year. They emphasized that the evidence was "more complicated than the headlines suggested."
