The father of Aramazd Andressian Jr., the missing 5-year-old boy whose body was found in Southern California, entered a plea in court. The boy went missing in April after being seen leaving Disneyland with his father, Aramazd Andressian Sr., and officials have been searching for the body since then. His body was found near a lake more than a week ago. The elder Andressian appeared before Los Angeles County Superior Judge Cathryn Brougham last week, pleading not guilty to murder and other charges.
#LASD Homicide Detectives Located Remains of Aramazd Andressian, Jr near Lake Cachuma on Friday, 06/30/17 https://t.co/FXqaq8XqD9 pic.twitter.com/sDg9Mhd0sv
— LA County Sheriff’s (@LASDHQ) July 1, 2017
“My client is heartbroken, like anybody else,” attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez said, according to CBS News. “This is a horrible day. In a long line of horrible days,” he told the Pasadena Star News. “Obviously my client is dealing with this and being accused of murdering his son and his son’s body (being) found.”
During his appearance in court Monday, Aramazd Andressian Sr. was wearing a suicide vest, @LaurenLyster reports https://t.co/cXdctNSfNO pic.twitter.com/o4pWSGmCia
— KTLA (@KTLA) July 3, 2017
He added that his client is being evaluated by a psychologist. Andressian, 35, has denied harming the boy since he went missing in April.
#BREAKING: Family member confirms body of missing South Pasadena boy Aramazd Andressian Jr. has been found. https://t.co/kovTniDHx3
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) July 1, 2017
On the day the child went missing, his father was found passed out in a park in South Pasadena, apparently having taken prescription pills in a suicide attempt. His car was doused in gasoline. After he was released from police custody, officials said he spent 50 days in Las Vegas. “He had significantly attempted to change his appearance by shaving his beard and dying his hair,” Detective Joe Mendoza with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department told ABC7. “We further believe he was making plans to flee the country to a location where he could not be extradited.”
Aramazd Andressian Sr. pleads not guilty to murdering son. Lawyer talks to media at Alhambra Courthouse. @LASDHQ https://t.co/Z7pNO2d5DU pic.twitter.com/SQriRvyIMX
— Walt Mancini (@WaltMancini) July 3, 2017
Andressian, when he was arrested in late June, has been uncooperative and gave authorities false information after he became a suspect. “He has not been cooperative whatsoever. As a matter of fact, he has given us information in interviews that were untruths,” Mendoza said. A possible motive for the killing was detailed by Mendoza,”A tumultuous divorce that they were going through at the time.”
