LOS ANGELES (KCAL/KCBS/CNN) – The body of a 5-year-old California boy missing since April has been found. The discovery comes as the boy’s father faces a murder charge in his son’s disappearance.
The body of Aramazd Andressian Jr. was found Friday in Santa Barbara County, CA, after homicide detectives followed up on leads in the case “in an effort to locate additional evidence,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s department confirmed the body was that of the 5-year-old.
Ed Winter, assistant chief for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, where the boy’s body was transferred, says the investigation is ongoing. He did not confirm the child’s identity nor provide information on a cause of death as of Saturday afternoon.
The discovery of what is believed to be Aramazd’s body comes as Aramazd Andressian Sr., the boy’s father, was flown into Los Angeles from Las Vegas Friday to face murder charges in his son’s disappearance.
Andressian was arrested June 23 on suspicion of killing the 5-year-old and had been in custody in Nevada since then.
The father and son were last seen together at 1 a.m. on April 21 while leaving Disneyland.
Andressian was found unconscious at a park in South Pasadena, CA, the next day. He said he didn’t remember what happened to his child nor any useful details.
The investigation into the death included several weeks of surveillance during which Andressian acted in a manner inconsistent with the behavior of a grieving parent and appeared to be planning to flee the country, according to Lt. Joe Mendoza with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of murder against Andressian on June 26. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted.
Sheriff's department officials say the murder was “pre-planned” in an effort to get back at the boy’s mother and Andressian’s estranged wife, Ana Estevez, with whom Andressian was in the middle of a divorce and custody battle.
Andressian will be entering a plea of not guilty during his arraignment Monday, according to his attorney.
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