Father of LA businessman (Elias Sorokin), believed to have been murdered, says his son would have forgiven his alleged killers

Father of LA businessman, believed to have been murdered, says his son would have forgiven his alleged killers

By Jennifer Squires
Posted: 08/05/2009 12:02:39 PM PDT
Updated: 08/05/2009 12:30:41 PM PDT

Nick Sorokin speaks to the press after the arraignment of Adam Spencer.














The father of a slain Los Angeles man said he's praying for the salvation of the two accused killers and thinks his son would like people to forgive them.

"I really believe that's what he wants from us," Nick Sorokin said after attending the first court appearance of Adam Hunt, 29, and Stewart Skuba, 31.

Hunt and Skuba face charges of murder, kidnapping and second-degree robbery in connection with the disappearance of 29-year-old Elias Sorokin.

Sorokin was last heard from late on July 20 as he drove from Oakland to Santa Cruz.

Police said he had a prearranged drug deal in Santa Cruz, but that the marijuana sale went sideways and Sorokin was kidnapped, robbed and killed on July 21.

Sorokin's body has not been found and police have not said how he died.

"I don't know how Elias died ... and I think that still plagues me," his father said.

Skuba, a Santa Cruz hair stylist, was arrested July 30 in South County, a day before the FBI conducted an extensive search of a townhouse on the 200 block of Felix Street. Police believe the crimes occurred in that home.

Hunt, an unemployed Watsonville man, turned himself in to Santa Cruz police early Saturday. A judge had signed a $1 million warrant for his arrest and authorities were searching for him.

Wednesday, Judge Paul Marigonda appointed attorneys to represent both Hunt and Skuba, who were both dressed in yellow jail-issue T-shirts and pants. Neither defendant entered a plea. They will return to court Aug. 18.

Police continue to search for Sorokin's remains. Tuesday, they canvassed the Santa Cruz Mountains near Bonny Doon, where Sorokin's truck was found burning last week. Lt. Rudy Escalante said teams would go out in a CHP helicopter again Wednesday afternoon to search Smith Grade Road from the air.

"We're not just focusing on that area," Escalante said. "We're expanding our search from that area outward."
Sorokin's father, who has been in Santa Cruz for nearly two weeks looking for his son, also said he would continue searching. Two dozen of Sorokin's friends have participated in the effort, which sometimes crossed areas were police were looking.

His father said the family is Russian Orthodox -- Sorokin was second-generation -- and their religious beliefs prevent them from having a burial without a body. He would like to lay his son to rest in Southern California.

"He's already at peace, we believe," Sorokin's father said. "He's already in heaven."

Prosecutor Rob Wade also said Sorokin's body would be a key piece of evidence in the murder case, but that it's possible to pursue homicide charges without the victim's remains.

Police and the District Attorney's Office have not discussed specifics of the alleged crimes, including what was taken during the robbery and what roles people had in the drug deal.

Sorokin's father said he wasn't aware of his son's apparent involvement in the drug trade. Sorokin was the CEO of a Los Angeles-based clothing company, Kucoon.

"I don't know what he was doing .... He lost focus," his father said.