Missing:
Gender: Male
DOB: 1965
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 160 lbs.
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Black
Defining Characteristics: Has burn scars on his right hand
Remarks: Last seen 6/7/89
CASE DETAILS
Beverly Hills, California, is one of the nation’s wealthiest communities, filled with glamorous people living a life of luxury. But there’s another side to Beverly Hills, a growing population of homeless people that live on its affluent streets. In the winter of 1989, one of those homeless found a surprising friend in 24-year-old Adam Hecht.
Two men walking away, one is in a blue and white striped shirt and one is in a blazer.
Adam befriended a homeless man
Adam, the son of a successful Hollywood producer, was born into Beverly Hills luxury in 1965. He spent his childhood surrounded by movie stars, mansions, and privilege. After graduating from Beverly Hills High, Adam made his living as a tennis instructor. All who knew him recalled a bright, independent, and friendly young man. But on the morning of January 10, 1989, Adam’s brother noticed he seemed different. Outside a restaurant where they went to eat breakfast, they met a street person who was apparently blind in one eye. A few minutes later, Adam left their table and went back outside. Harold Hecht is Adam’s brother:
“Adam said, ‘Excuse me.’ Then he went outside and started talking to this person. And I could see him through the blinds, and I couldn’t understand it. I was quite surprised. I didn’t understand his reason for being out there.”
A man in a hoodie is standing with a grocery cart in an alley, there is trash can knocked over.
Police evicted Tony, but Adam was gone
When Adam returned to the table, Harold asked him what they were talking about. Adam said it was nothing, so they continued having their breakfast. After the meal, they left the restaurant and headed towards Harold’s car. But according to Harold, Adam’s encounter with the street person continued:
“Just before I got in my car, I looked back. He was talking to this person. I was very surprised.”
The young man from the street said his name was Tony. Within a few weeks, Adam had invited Tony to move into his apartment. Why? His brother says that Adam was disillusioned with his pampered life. But what started out as a gesture of kindness may have had unexpected consequences. Today, Adam Hecht is missing.
A white sweater and a wallet are on a car seat.
Adam’s wallet was in his car
Soon after Tony moved in, Adam brought his new roommate to his mother, Martine’s, house for dinner. She said she was surprised that her son would give shelter to a street person:
“I thought, ‘My goodness, that’s strange.’ But knowing Adam, the way he is, I really understood it. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s so nice that he wants to help him.’ When I saw Tony and how he talked, and, my God, the smell, it was unbelievable. And, wow, it was scary. It was really scary.”
During the meal, Tony began to wave his hands over his food as if he were blessing it. Still, Martine thought her son and Tony had a good relationship:
“Adam was very, very much wanting to talk about Tony. Adam seemed to understand Tony, and I was led to believe that Tony was really being very kind to Adam as far as helping him grow up as a person and mature. That’s what he said to me, ‘He’s helping me mature as a person.’”
Rebecca Hecht is Adam’s sister:
“At the beginning, Adam was an elite, preppy businessman. He drove a great car and taught tennis. And then he met Tony, and it just all changed. And he became a mystical person, and I just didn’t know him anymore.”