Meyer Muscatel, 58, a real estate developer from Sherman Oaks, was reported missing on October 12, 2001, after failing to return from a business meeting. His body was recovered floating in New Melones Reservoir six days later; a plastic bag was wrapped around his head and secured with duct tape. Investigators had difficulty identifying the body for five months because no Northern California missing-person records matched his description.

Prosecutors say Muscatel was one of five victims in a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme run by Jurijus Kadamovas and Iouri Mikhel. The men allegedly lured wealthy targets to meetings, abducted them, and demanded ransom; despite collecting over $1 million, the victims were killed, their bodies weighted and dumped in New Melones Reservoir near Yosemite National Park. Federal charges included hostage-taking resulting in death and related conspiracies.

Muscatel’s widow, Nancy Shapiro Muscatel, publicly expressed confidence that those responsible were behind bars. Does anyone have information about Muscatel’s business contacts or the October 2001 meeting he attended?