Alexander Merman, 35

Alexander "Sasha" Merman, a 35-year-old white man, was found dead in his condominium in the 500 block of Montana Avenue in Santa Monica at about 8:05 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. Santa Monica Police Department said the building manager discovered the body and dialed 911. According to police, the building manager had been asked by Merman's mother to check up after she was unable to reach him by phone for several days. Santa Monica police said Merman had died from blunt force trauma, however, an autopsy performed Saturday revealed that Merman had died from multiple stab wounds, according to L.A. County Coroner Investigator Elissa Fleak. Police said Merman's death was not connected to Julianna Redding's death, listed below.

Merman, an artist, was born in Moscow and immigrated with his mother to Los Angeles in 1985. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1992 and in 1998 graduated from Otis College of Art and Design with a bachelor of fine arts degree in Illustration, according to his website, Sasha's Illusions.

Comments

[jessica]

well i loved him very much n i miss him soo much i wish that this would have never happened he was a great teacher n friend he tought me alot n i appreciate every little bit i learned

mr merman even though u are gone u will never n i mean never be forgotten i miss u so much n i truly wish u were here to see me graduate from our beloved matrkham middle shool

with love ur exstudent n friend who truly misses u
jessica e hernandez
june 2 09
1:00 pm

[Sharniece James]

Man even tho a year passed by since you been gone i still sit quietly to myself and think of you .Mr.Merman you were the best teacher i ever had and i was so mad when i heard what happened to you i couldnt believe my ears all i could do was cry but now i noticed your'e in a better place and your watching over us.I coudnt believe that someone would do something that cruel to an inicent man like you . I'll alwayz miss you Mr. Merman but one day I'll see you again so let me dry my eyes and dnt cry anymore because i Know your"e in a better place and you no longer have 2 suffer anymore .

[JaY GurRL]

Well I am one of his students from Markham Middle School, and I was actually shocked to hear that he was murdered. Infact, I remeber that day like it was yesterday. Even though he was my art teacher for summer school he taught me alot. I am going to cherish all of the artwork that ws given to me. Maybe one day, he'll be recognized for how good an artist he actually was. Mr. Alexander Merman will be remembered and missed by all of his past students, and it is so sad to see a man with such a beautiful spirit as his, taken away from us in such a tragic way. My heart goes out to the family, and i wish I would have found out sooner. I will remember the good times, and share them with those who would have wanted to get to know him better

- A 17 who misses her favorite art teacher.

[juan]

thanks for those good times we had ill naver forget the last words you told me see yah in heaven

[daniela kelly]

he was the best teacher ever we had lotd of fun with him specially when he subed ur class!dear mr . merman u will always be in our heart and in the heart of markhan ! the best teacher ever

[Jessica Henson]

Mr. Merman was a wonderful man. He was my Art teacher in 8th grade. I'm finished with school now. He was the one who inspired my artistic ability. I actually payed attention in his class. He once told me I'd made a great artist. He told me I was one of his most talented students.

I live in Las Vegas now. When I heard the news I couldn't believe it. I have no idea who would want to do this to him. I love you Mr. Merman. I'll miss you so much.

- Jess

[a good friend]

My last memory of sascha was at a party one night and he was dancing ( which seemd to us it was rehearsed) to i think it was an old tribe song. we laughed all night. he is good people.
For the person who commited this sensless crime i truly forgive you because i know alex wouldve have forgiven you.
although i feel robbed of such a beautiful spirit, i find comfort in knowing heaven has been truly blessed with one of our finest.
So i hope you can find some kinda peace in your life and let this life of crime end here find yourself some help spiritually because one day you too will die.

[a good friend]

My last memory of sascha was at a party one night and he was dancing ( which seemd to us it was rehearsed) to i think it was an old tribe song. we laughed all night. he is good people.
For the person who commited this sensless crime i truly forgive you because i know alex wouldve have forgiven you.
although i feel robbed of such a beautiful spirit, i find comfort in knowing heaven has been truly blessed with one of our finest.
So i hope you can find some kinda peace in your life and let this life of crime end here find yourself some help spiritually because one day you too will die.

[nika]

I am 19yrs old now merman was also a good teacher to me too, he tought me alot of things about art and i loved his personality he was a good man. He never did any thing to no one than when i seen him on the news that hurt me to my heart. i will always miss you. You made me luagh when i was down.I thank god for blessing me with a good teacher 6 yrs ago.You will always be in my thoughts.

[DAWN mONTGOMERY]

i WAS SHOCKED WHEN SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS HE WAS MY 7TH GRADE TEACHER AND WE ALL LIKED HIM EVERY FUNNY WORD HE SAID ILL MISS U MERMAN!!

YEAR BOOK LOVES U AND WANTS U TO COME BACK ANY TIME CAUSE IT DOESNT SEEM REAL TO US ......4RM DAWN,SOFIA,DAISY M.,TYUS J.,CHRISTIAN P.,DONNIE E.,DONNEL P.,SHAWNICE,ALEXIS H.BRANDON,EMILIO,MONICA,JOSH,EVERYONE
RIP

[jessica macias]

i am very sad about what happen to him he was my art teacherin 7 th grade he was the best i don't know why someone would do this to him...i will always remember him as mr. mermaid and the best art teacher in markham middle school and i hope they find the person who did this to him........
R.I.P. MR. MERMAN

[agirlfromhispast]

Sasha Merman went to Fairfax but then transferred and graduated from Sherman Oaks Center of Enriched Studies (Sherman Oaks CES)

[L Dollar]

I am sorry to hear of this loss to the arts community of Los Angeles. I did not know this man but I happened to read of this tragedy online and my heart goes out to you all.
God bless.

-An artist in Oakland CA

[jj]

Did Alex go to Bancroft or Fairfax? RIP

[co-worker]

Mr Merman thank you the time you spent on this earth. The time you spent with the children and taking the time to teach, even on the days when the students would drive you crazy. Thank you for caring. I was shocked when someone passed the news on to me about your death. I could remember just seeing you at the school, looking at the mural/collage in the front office reminds me of how important you were to the Markham family. We will miss you.

[Alex's friend]

I can't believe we buried you. You looked like you were sleeping. Rest dear friend.

To the coward that did this... you will be caught. You will pay for this. If the police don't catch you then I hope you are haunted. I hope you never sleep again. I hope you walk down the street every day with guilt. You will never have rest. You will forever look over your shoulder.
You hurt so many people by doing what you did. You are not a human being. You are not even an animal. You are garbage. And like garbage, you should be thrown away. You are truly a waste of air. The only reason you live on this earth is to be an example. You are an example of cowardace. You are an example of what NOT to be. You are weakness and fear personified. God will take care of you in his own time. Alex's pain was temporary. Yours will be an eternity.

You are absolutely nothing.

[Dear friend of Sasha]

Thats it, we burried you; it was painful, we all cried. You were the best from all of us. Please forgive me if I was ever wrong to you in any way. Piece of my heart left with you, but none the less you will always be in it.

Love you, my dear friend.

[Artist]

A Big loss... Mr. Merman was a good man, great person and art teacher. When I saw his picture on the news I couldn't believe what I was seing. I worked with Mr. Mernam at Markham and it's just sad to hear this happened to him. My condolences to his family and specially his mother... may god help her

[from Moscow]

He will live forever in our memory. Our condolence to Sashas mother.

[a co-worker]

He will be missed by all who knew him. He was a very pleasant person who remained kind and professional on the job. His students learned much from him and he is still teaching through his memory.
We are praying for the family in this difficult time.

[in disbelief]

I still can't believe that this happened. My deepest condolences to Sasha's mother. He was a great guy. May he rest in piece. Sasha will always be remembered!

[From Moscow]

We still can’t believe that it happened. This is terrible. Sasha was very kind man & great Artist, gifted by God. He will live forever in his Arts. Our condolence to Sashas family & mother.

[friend]

Sasha was loved by many and friends and family are doing there best to support his mom in this tragic time. he had set goals and achieved them and was continuing to do things he loved, arts, travel, sports he was a great friend. To the guilty may the hand of God move swift on you, let your conscience make you mad, and justice prevail.

[smokeonit]

what a tragic loss of life...

my condolences!