Man Found Fatally Stabbed in Apartment : Crime: Investigators say the killer or killers may have fled in the victim’s sports car, which is missing. Victim had recently been released from prison, relative says.

STUDIO CITY —  LAPD homicide detectives Thursday were investigating the stabbing death of man whose body was found in his apartment by his maid.

Mitchell Stanman, 41, was found dead just before noon Thursday in the 4200 block of Arch Drive, Det. Sgt. Mike Coffey of the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Coffey said Stanman’s killer or killers may have fled in the victim’s 1999 silver Porsche Boxster, California license plate number 4FDP492, which is missing. Police have issued a warrant for the car and are asking the public’s help in finding it.Anyone with information is asked to call Coffey at (818) 623-4075.

Stanman’s relatives described him as a ne’er-do-well who was in and out of jail because of a chronic drug problem. They said he was able to pay for the Porsche--and an $18,000 Rolex watch--with inheritance money he received after the deaths of both parents last year.

“They left him a lot of money,” said Max Stanman, an uncle.

He said his nephew was born and raised in Southern California and attended high school in Beverly Hills. He also said Stanman had been released from state prison a few months ago.

Court records indicate several crimes, including a March 1998 incident in which Stanman reportedly attacked a clerk at Valley Beverage liquor store.

The clerk, Edon Feldman, testified that Stanman had walked into the store, cursed him and then grabbed a gun from behind the counter and began threatening him.

Feldman testified he was able to kick the gun out of Stanman’s hand, but said Stanman then grabbed a baseball bat.

The pair fell to the floor as they struggled for the bat, Feldman said. Stanman then bit the clerk on the arm, according to Feldman’s testimony, cutting through the skin and leaving a welt.

Feldman said he sought treatment at Sherman Oaks Hospital for his injuries and told the doctor the man who bit him had said he was HIV-positive. The physician put Feldman on HIV-treatment medication, Feldman testified.

Stanman was charged with assault with a deadly weapon--”to wit, gun, baseball bat, teeth, wine bottle, HIV virus” and commercial burglary, according to the criminal complaint. He pleaded guilty to a commercial burglary charge and was sentenced to 16 months in prison and three years’ probation.

Max Stanman said though his nephew seldom showed it, he had a positive side. Years ago, Max Stanman said, his nephew had gone into the flower business and was good at it “while he was clean.”

“When he was straight he was the kind of guy you’d want to marry your daughter,” he said.

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Times staff writer Evelyn Larrubia contributed to this report.