Judge releases men in burglary case

Amber Willard

PASADENA COURTHOUSE -- A man who was arrested and released as a

suspect in a double murder and who has been accused of the crime by a

defense attorney was ordered released from jail in an unrelated case

Tuesday.

Adam Walker, a Montrose resident arrested and later released by

Glendale officers in July following the beating deaths of two boys on a

La Crescenta school playground, was one of seven men being held on

burglary charges not related to the killings. A judge removed the bail

requirement for the seven suspects, who were then essentially placed

under house arrest at their parents’ homes.

In hearing attorneys’ arguments to allow their clients to be released

on their own recognizance, Judge Joseph DeVanon said he was most

concerned about Walker, 19.

“He is not a suspect in the [murder] investigation and the physical

evidence seems to have ruled him out,” DeVanon said of Walker when

announcing his decision to allow the men to be removed from court

custody.

Each of the men pleaded not guilty to various charges of burglary,

attempted burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. The men were

arrested by Burbank Police for alleged crimes in Burbank. They will

return to court Nov. 22 for pretrial hearings.

Walker and the other burglary suspects will be required to stay at

their parents’ homes unless going to school, work or court. The men

cannot contact each other, DeVanon said.

The attorney defending Michael Demirdjian, who has been charged with

the July beating deaths of Christopher McCulloch and Blaine Talmo Jr.,

has alleged in a Glendale court that Walker committed the slayings.

“I am naming Adam Walker as the killer in this case,” attorney Charles

Mathews said in court Oct. 5. Mathews reiterated his claim that his

client, 15-year-old Michael Demirdjian, witnessed the slayings of Talmo

and McCulloch but played no part in their deaths.

Walker’s attorney, Steven Flanagan, declined comment outside court but

said during the proceeding that no information he has been given supports

claims made by Mathews, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

“Mr. Demirdjian is not telling the truth, based upon scientific

evidence,” Flanagan told DeVanon, adding that DNA samples taken from

Walker do not link him to the slayings. Flanagan also said police dogs

picked up two scents at the crime scene in July -- one leading to

Demirdjian’s home and the other to a car in the area.

“The dog failed to hit on his scent,” Flanagan said of clothing seized

from Walker.

Glendale Police, who are still investigating the slayings, declined

comment about Flanagan’s claims.

Walker’s parents also declined comment about their son or any concerns

they may have about his safety following his release.