Man Accused of Killing 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 dumped on a nearby street, Los Angeles Police investigators said.

John Richard Diamond, 38, who lived with his mother and her husband 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 at 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.

Officers who initially responded to the report said Diamond drove up to the scene in a white van before investigators arrived. The officers said they noted that Diamond appeared 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.

Additional evidence was found at the home, Oppelt said.

Diamond was booked at the Devonshire Division, then transported to the Van Nuys Jail where he was being held.