Krekorian Pledges Support to Victim's Family

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian continued to pledge support to the family of Cheree Osmanhodzic as they work to change the parole system.

The family is calling for one million signatures to reform the parole system and create “Cheree’s Law.” They believe that Omar Loera, the confessed killer of Cheree, would have benefitted from a more strict parole system. (See the petition here.)

Karen Sutton, grand aunt of the Valley Village victim, said, “Paul Krekorian was of immense help in bringing Loera to justice and for that our family is eternally grateful. I couldn't be more pleased to hear that Paul is on our team again. We are hoping that now he can help bring about a full investigation, rather than an informal one on the circumstances in how Loera slipped through the cracks. That should have never happened.”

Krekorian, who worked closely with the family from the time the murder occurred, to raising reward money, to his capture and beyond, said in a statement:

“I am proud to have worked closely with the family of Cheree Osmanhodzic and the LAPD to bring her murderer, Omar Loera, to justice.   It was a very satisfying moment when I sat with Cheree's family in court and watched as Loera confessed for his heinous crime and received a sentence of life in prison without parole.  That moment was the culmination of tremendous vigilance and skillful investigation by the LAPD, which I was pleased to support by securing a reward offer and vigorously engaging the public in the search for Loera.  Ultimately, our public outreach efforts helped lead to his capture.”

The councilman said, “Soon after Loera was identified as the suspect, I initiated an informal investigation of the circumstances under which he was on the streets.  Among other things, I made demands for documents and information about Loera from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service.  I was outraged to learn that CDCR had not notified local law enforcement of Loera's release from prison, nor of the fact that he had failed to report to his parole officer.”

Krekrorian worked closely with Cheree's parents, Mike and Gail Cameron and added, “Today, I am eager to begin working again with the Osmanhodzic and Cameron families, this time to change state law to require immediate notification in such circumstances.  I will personally be contacting my former colleagues in Sacramento to urge them to take immediate action to begin fixing a parole system that too often is failing to protect the public.  If we can succeed in doing so, we will both enhance public safety and create a lasting and important legacy to the memory of Cheree.”