The father of a missing South Pasadena boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the disappearance of his 5-year-old son Aramzd Andressian, Jr.
During a Monday news conference at the Los Angeles County Hall of Justice in downtown, authorities said Aramazd Andressian Sr., 35, was taken into custody in Las Vegas last Friday on suspicion of killing his son, Aramazd Andressian Jr.
Andressian Sr. remains in custody in Las Vegas pending an extradition hearing. Last week, prosecutors filed one count of murder against Andressian Sr., who faces a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. He is scheduled for an arraignment in Los Angeles later this week.
Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Lt. Joe Mendoza said the investigation included surveillance in which Andressian Sr. changed his “appearance and acted in a manner inconsistent with the behavior of a grieving parent.”
The boy has been missing since April 22, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. On that day, he failed to turn over the child to his mother as part of a scheduled custody exchange.
Aramzd Andressian Sr., 35, was arrested for suspicion of murder in a case filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney.
“After reviewing all of the evidence in this case, homicide investigators presented the facts to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and obtained a murder filing against the suspect,” Deputy Grace Medrano, a sheriff’s department spokesperson, wrote in a statement. “The suspect was booked at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with a bail of $10 million and will return to Los Angeles County pending the extradition process.”
The boy was seen on camera on April 20 as he was leaving Disneyland. Two days later the father of the youth was found passed out next to his car in Arroyo Seco Park in South Pasadena. Police later revealed the car had been doused on the inside with gasoline.
Aramazd Andressian Sr. reportedly had taken some pills not prescribed to him.
At one point early on in the case, Aramazd Andressian Sr. was arrested, but later released due to lack of evidence.
The case has taken investigators to Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County and back to Arroyo Seco Park, where members of the Sheriff’s Dept. combed the area looking for clues.
Miller said he’s been talking to members of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept, who “have followed up on every possible lead,” he said. “They are actually going to retrace some parts of the investigation.”
Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at the Montebello home of Andressian Sr.’s mother. The deputies were seen taking computer equipment from the home.
In searching Arroyo Park for a second time, Miller said authorities “made sure they uncovered everything to get a possible handle on it.”
A $30,000 reward has been issued leading to information and the whereabouts of the boy.
