Neighbor of Costa Mesa slaying suspect says he spoke of mental issues
A Costa Mesa man accused of beating another man to death with a hammer-hatchet was described by some of his neighbors Friday as a “quiet guy,” though one said he told her he had experienced mental-health issues in the past year.
Ivan Chernev Dimov, 51, was charged Friday with murdering Kyle Avila, 53, on Wednesday in a parking area next to the condominium complex where Dimov lived. Dimov, who neighbors said is married with three children, faces a possible sentencing enhancement for use of a deadly weapon, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Avila was found dead when police responded to a report of an assault at about 8:45 a.m. outside the Monticello complex in the 2300 block of Vanguard Way, across from Vanguard University, Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Beckman said.
An officer arrested Dimov near the scene after a brief foot pursuit, using a Taser to subdue him, police said.
Dimov was being held Friday at Orange County Jail with bail set at $1 million.
A neighbor of Dimov’s who would identify herself only as Kathy said she had spoken often with Dimov and his wife about mental-health issues he said he had suffered over the past year. Kathy said Dimov said he had undergone medical testing.
Dimov’s wife declined to comment Friday evening.
Kathy said she answered her front door at about 7:40 the night before Avila was killed to find Dimov there, mumbling something under his breath.
He left, but then returned soon after, opened the screen door and knocked, but Kathy didn’t answer, she said.
Other Monticello residents said they were surprised that Dimov is suspected of murdering someone.
“He was a quiet guy who kept to himself,” said Josh Francis, a longtime resident.
Francis said he rarely saw Dimov or his kids, except for when he went for walks around the neighborhood.
“The family was generally more secluded,” Francis said. “But there was no indication that he would do something like this.”
Josh Cant, Dimov’s neighbor for four years, said he talked to Dimov every once in a while but that he generally kept to himself.
Cant, who has a 9-month-old daughter, said he couldn’t believe that the killing occurred “next to a police station, a fire station and a Christian university.”
Judy Fierro, who recently moved in two doors down from Dimov, said he was a “nice generous guy” and that she couldn’t believe he might have “snapped.”
Fierro said Dimov used to take food to her roommate and helped her jump-start her car three weeks ago.
“We always used to talk about our dogs,” Fierro said.
Booking records say Dimov was working as a driver at the time of his arrest. Residents said they believe Dimov was an Uber driver for a time but they didn’t know whether he was still working for the ride-hailing service.
Investigators have not determined a motive for the crime or found any links between Avila and Dimov, said Beckman, who on Thursday said the attack was probably random.
‘In the wrong place at the wrong time’
Andrea Garland, a longtime friend of Avila’s, said he had been in the Monticello neighborhood in recent days helping his girlfriend move into a condominium.
Avila was killed as he was getting into his car to go to work at Orange Courier, a messenger and delivery service in Santa Ana, said Garland, who said she worked with Avila at Orange Courier for about 10 years.
Police and a witness told the Daily Pilot this week that Avila was in a car when he was beaten by a man standing outside it. Officers found a weapon in the car that might have been used in the attack, Beckman said.
Garland said Avila lived in Santa Ana, though police said he had recently moved to Costa Mesa.
“Kyle was a good guy,” Garland said. “He had the biggest heart and was always so helpful.
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do not understand why this happened.”
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
