California man charged with rape and kidnapping dies before court appearance
A 26-year-old California man charged with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault has died by suicide on the eve of his court appearance. Alexander Schecter was found dead at his family's $3.3 million home in Santa Monica on Monday morning, hours before his scheduled court appearance to answer charges stemming from two separate incidents. His family has disputed the district attorney's handling of the case.
Schecter faced up to 37 years to life in prison if convicted. The charges stemmed from two incidents: an alleged March 2026 abduction of a UCLA student where he allegedly refused to let her exit his vehicle, and an October 2025 sexual assault case in Culver City. Medical examiners ruled his death by mechanical asphyxia and neck compression. His family noted that Schecter had autism spectrum disorder and anxiety.
- Man aged 26 died by suicide the day before rape and kidnapping trial
- He faced up to life imprisonment if convicted of serious charges
- Family cited his autism and anxiety in disputing case characterisation
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Alexander Schecter was a 26-year-old California man charged with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault. The charges stemmed from two separate alleged incidents in 2025 and 2026.
In the first case, he was accused in March 2026 of confining a UCLA student to his vehicle against her will. A second allegation of sexual assault related to an October 2025 incident in Culver City. If convicted on all counts, he faced a potential sentence of up to 37 years to life in prison.
Schecter's family disputed the district attorney's handling of the case. They noted that he had autism spectrum disorder and anxiety, factors they considered relevant to his circumstances.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “LA man, 26, kills himself at $3.3m home hours before he was due in court on charges of raping one woman and kidnapping another, as stricken family blasts DA”.