A city worker reported spotting an at-large parolee wanted in the brutal murder of a Valley Village woman who had been planning for her upcoming wedding. Authorities urged residnets in Coldwater Canyon area to stay inside and lock windows and doors as they searched the Valley side of the Santa Monica Mountains near Studio City Friday afternoon.

Thirty-four-year-old Omar Armando Loera was identified earlier this week as the suspect in the murder of Armani saleswoman Cheree Osmanhodzic in July. Her home was set ablaze and her fiance happened upon a suspect who was fleeing the scene.

After a city worker reported seeing a man who fit the description of Loera, police began a massive search near Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Mulholland Drive about 10 a.m. The search continued late Friday afternoon, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles

Police Department.

“Yesterday there was a sighting by a Park and Rec employee who saw our wanted flier,'' LAPD Capt. Justin Eisenberg told KCAL9. “We followed up on that information and it sounded interesting to the point where we wanted to come out here and really drill down and see if we could find the suspect here.''

“What's interesting about this,” he said, “is the proximity of the crime scene of Valley Village. It's very close.''

Transients frequent the area, and Loera was said to be somewhat homeless. Anyone who has spotted him was asked to call detectives at 818-623-4016.

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us. Follow us on Twitter, too: @dennisjromero.

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