Man Held in Slaying of His Stepfather, 81
A Granada Hills man was arrested late Monday on suspicion of murder after the body of his 81-year-old stepfather was found on a street near his home, Los Angeles police investigators said.
John Richard Diamond, 38, who lived with his mother and the victim at their home in the 17500 block of Orna Drive, was arrested after police found evidence in a van and at the home linking Diamond to the crime, said Det. Mike Oppelt of the LAPD’s Devonshire Division.
The body of Lloyd Young was found by a jogger about 7:20 a.m. in the 18000 block of Sesnon Boulevard. The street, a block north of the victim’s home, dead-ends into a popular jogging and hiking area, Oppelt said.
The first officers on the scene said Diamond drove up in a white van before other investigators arrived. The officers said Diamond appeared to be nervous.
They became suspicious and peered into the battered van, which was missing a headlight.
“There was some evidence in plain sight in the van that suggested that the van was involved in the incident,” Oppelt said. He declined to reveal what officers found in the vehicle.
Further investigation led to additional evidence being found at the home, Oppelt said.
Diamond was arrested and booked at the Devonshire Division, then taken to the Van Nuys Jail, where he was being held.
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