Cold Case Twist Haunts Orinda Crime Victim

Orinda's Hamed Mirabdal still suffers from the injuries inflicted on him during a violent street attack in North Berkeley four years ago. Memories of the assault, which nearly cost him his life and left him with debilitating injuries, came home to haunt him further July 13 with the delivery of a plain manila folder.

Inside was Hamed's wallet, and a scribbled note that said, "Hamed, found this while gardening on San Lorenzo Avenue in North Berkeley." The note was signed but illegible. It was written on a piece of Keller Williams Real Estate notepaper with an address at the bottom, from an office in Pennsylvania.

Hamed, now 23, was 19 when he was attacked and stabbed more than 25 times while walking on Poppy Lane in the Berkeley hills. His family says his hands shook when he saw his wallet and the accompanying note. There was no return address on the envelope, though the family noted that it was addressed to Hamed personally.

His driver's license was still inside, along with another piece of identification the sender probably used to locate him. Berkeley police are intensely interested in finding who sent the wallet, particularly so as two men prepare to go on trial for Hamed's assault.

Blake Anthony Mastro, 22, and Nicolas Flatbush, 26, were arrested and charged in connection with Hamed's assault. Mastro remains jailed without bail on attempted murder and second-degree robbery charges; Flatbush was charged with attempted murder and second-degree robbery and is currently free on $150,000 bail.

Investigators in Berkeley would like to speak with the person who sent the wallet home to Hamed, as the precise location where it was located on San Lorenzo Avenue could help their case.

Police have contacted Keller Williams for help in locating the sender, but so far have not had any luck.

Anyone with information on the wallet or the note is asked to e-mail Berkeley PD Detective Det. Sgt. Emily Murphy at ejmurphy@ci.Berkeley.ca.us or call the homicide unit at 510-981-5741.