Wallet of Slain Boy Found in Suspect’s Home, Attorney Says
A wallet belonging to one of the boys found slain on a local schoolyard was found in the home of the 15-year-old boy accused in the killings, the suspect’s attorney said Tuesday.
Attorney Charles T. Mathews confirmed that police found the wallet of victim Blaine Talmo Jr. in the home of 15-year-old Michael Demirdjian. But he declined to elaborate on how Demirdjian obtained the wallet.
Mathews previously acknowledged that Demirdjian had witnessed the killings, but said they were committed by an adult male acquaintance and that his client fled in fear for his own life.
Blaine, 14, and Chris McCulloch, 13, were found dead on the playground of Valley View Elementary School July 23. Prosecutors have charged Demirdjian as an adult with robbery and murder. A preliminary hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Sept. 20.
Mathews, who said he has obtained Glendale police reports of the investigation as part of the pretrial discovery process, said police also have a statement from a person who claimed to have witnessed a fistfight between Demirdjian and the two victims days before their deaths.
Mathews, however, disputed the account--saying the witness mistook a different boy for Demirdjian.
Glendale police, who have declared a news blackout on the murder investigation, declined comment on Mathews’ remarks Tuesday.
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