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

[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!