LOS ANGELES, CA — A Santa Monica man accused of kidnapping a UCLA student and raping a woman in Culver City was found dead at his family's home Monday, one day before he was scheduled to appear in court on multiple felony charges.
Alexander William Schecter, 26, was found unresponsive at a residence in the 800 block of San Vicente Boulevard on Oct. 5, according to NBC4. Police and firefighters responded shortly before 6 p.m., but Schecter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner determined his death was a suicide, according to the Los Angeles Times. Santa Monica police said there was no indication of foul play.
Schecter, who was out on bail, had pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to appear Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Airport Courthouse for a preliminary hearing setting.
According to an April 6 announcement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Schecter was accused of sexually assaulting and raping a woman in Culver City on Oct. 12, 2025.
Prosecutors also alleged that on March 8, 2026, he kidnapped a female UCLA student near the 500 block of Landfair Avenue in Westwood, preventing her from leaving his vehicle and threatening violence. The student eventually escaped approximately half a mile away, near Gayley Avenue.
UCLA police arrested Schecter on March 12. Investigators subsequently linked him to the earlier sexual assault allegations.
He was charged with kidnapping to commit another crime, first-degree residential robbery, two counts of forcible oral copulation and forcible rape. If convicted as charged, he faced 37 years to life in state prison.
Following his death, Schecter's attorney, Debra S. White, criticized the prosecution's handling of the case, arguing that accusations can cause serious harm before all the evidence has been examined and that prosecutors must respect due process, according to NBC4.
Schecter denied the allegations, which had not been adjudicated at the time of his death.
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