Son of Wealthy Developer Kills Home Burglar

The 14-year-old son of wealthy Arcadia developer Charles Bluth shot and killed one of two burglars who broke into the family’s gated, multimillion-dollar estate Thursday night, police said today.

The boy, who was not identified because he is a juvenile, confronted the intruders at 8:45 p.m. in the second-floor hallway of the posh home on Whispering Pines Summit and fired at least one round from a rifle at them, Arcadia police Lt. Richard Honaker said.

One intruder, whose name was not immediately released, died at the scene, but the other got away.

Honaker said the boy will not be charged, quoting investigators who said the shooting was “completely justified.”

Burglar Alarm Sounds

Investigators said they did not know how the suspects, who were apparently armed, entered the estate grounds, but burglar alarms sounded in the home when the pair forced their way inside. Arcadia police were notified of the break-in by a private security company that received a silent alarm from the 24-room home, known as Peacock Manor.

The boy’s mother, Cleo, and a 12-year-old sister were also home at the time, but they were not hurt during the incident. “They’re pretty shook up,” Honaker said.

The boy’s father, Charles Bluth, was away on business. He developed the exclusive Whispering Pines community where 22 Tudor-style houses, priced from $500,000 to $1.5 million, are located in the foothills overlooking the city. He also owns the Cal-Neva Lodge in Nevada, which was once owned by Frank Sinatra.

Police were pressing the search for the second intruder. He was described as being about 6 feet tall and weighing about 220 pounds. He had shoulder-length blond hair and was wearing dark clothes.