Rishi Chaubal-Menon died in a hit-and-run incident more than 6 months ago.
AB Wire
More than six months after an Indian-origin film student from Australia was killed in a hit-and-run-incident in Hollywood, California, a $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Authorities said 18-year-old Rishi Chaubal-Menon was struck and killed shortly aftermidnight on October 31, 2015. Menon’s body was found in the northbound lanes of the 101 Freeway near Vineland Street, reported ABC.
Investigators did not find any broken glass or pieces of the car at the crime scene. They said they do not know why Menon was on the freeway. On Tuesday, authorities asked for the public’s help to solve the crime.
“…We have exhausted all of the leads we have and that’s why we’re pleading with the public now to please help us with this,” Capt. Johnny Starling said.
Menon was an Australian national who had only been in Los Angeles for a month. He was a student at the New York Film Academy. His roommate, Buffy Milner, said Menon was sweet and lit up any room he was in.
The Film Academy is offering the $10,000 reward.
“People really don’t know what happened here. The school wanted to help in any way it could, really for the family and for his friends as well,” said Eric Conner, dean of the New York Film Academy.
NBC Los Angeles reported that during a news conference Tuesday announcing the reward, friends recalled a special man.
“He taught me how to use the washing machine,” said Buffy Milner, who shared a home with Chabal-Menon, as they both had moved for the first time away from home. “He was like my mother here. And I would come home and I would find notes around the house saying, ‘I’ve left you dinner in the fridge.'”
Milner said they had just left a party at an apartment when he was killed. She said she thought he jumped in a car with other friends and admits drinking was involved.
“I can’t accept that he was too drunk and wandered onto the freeway,” Milner said. “That’s not who he was.”
Other drivers who came upon the scene stopped and parked their vehicles in traffic lanes to protect his body from being struck again.
Toby Kertan, a classmate, said the victim was caring and considerate.
“Rishi was a very genuine human being,” he said.
Ria Patel, a classmate and friend, still hears his voice, reported NBC.
She misses his smile, his laughter, his cheekiness.
“There is not one day that goes by that I don’t think about him,” Patel said.
Police were searching for a vehicle with damage to the left front side headlight, left front fender, and possibly damage to the left front windshield. The make, model and color are unknown.
“We don’t know why the young man was on the freeway,” he said. “We know it is a very busy freeway, and we hope someone saw something that will help us find the motorist and help bring closure to the family.”
Chaubal-Menon had only bid farewell to his family a month before he died, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Tomorrow I finally start the next chapter of my life,” he wrote on Facebook. “Undeniably, the road has had its bumps, but I have a clear path in mind with a goal that may seem laughable to many. I believe it is this attitude that sets people back.
“So, as I turn the new leaf and enter the first day of the rest of my life (I know, how cliche), I will say simply this: you can be a friend or you can be an obstacle, don’t try and disrupt my course because I will be relentless in striving to reach the destination (woo how inspiring).”
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the California Highway Patrol West Valley at (818) 888-0980 ext. 204.