Investigators identified Hossein Nayeri as the mastermind behind the scheme. After the crime, he fled to Iran, while his accomplices—Kyle Handley, a cannabis grower from Fountain Valley who had previously done business with the victim, and Ryan Kevorkian—were also implicated, according to NBC Los Angeles.
A High-Stakes Investigation
The gripping three-part docuseries delves deep into the extensive investigation, featuring everything from covert sting operations and police bodycam footage to international manhunts and tense courtroom battles between the prosecution and the accused.
One of the most shocking revelations includes footage of Nayeri attempting to escape from Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana. Using a contraband cellphone, he even recorded his daring jailbreak attempt while awaiting trial.
A Key Witness and Chilling Victim Testimonies
Cortney Shegerian, Nayeri’s ex-wife, played a crucial role in bringing him to justice. She assisted authorities in his arrest as he disembarked from a plane in California and later testified in court, revealing how Nayeri had meticulously spied on the victim before carrying out the abduction.
The docuseries also features never-before-heard audio recordings of the victims recounting their harrowing ordeal to police, offering a chilling firsthand account of the terrifying events they endured.

Hossein Nayeri was ultimately captured thanks to his wife’s decision to cooperate with authorities.
In video clips obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Michael recalled the terrifying night. “I left the shop at 11:30 p.m., so I was in bed by midnight or a little after. I passed out on the little couch futon thing,” he recounted.
His nightmare began when he was startled awake by an unfamiliar sound—only to find himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun.
Mary also described her horrifying experience, saying she was asleep when she suddenly felt “something cold and metallic” pressed against her neck.
Despite enduring a brutal attack that nearly took his life, Michael miraculously survived and later testified against the men responsible.
Hossein Nayeri and Kyle Handley both received life sentences without the possibility of parole, while Ryan Kevorkian was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison. Kevorkian’s wife, who was implicated as an accessory, was given three years of informal probation.