Attorney says arrestee was at slaying scene

Amber Willard

GLENDALE COURTHOUSE -- The attorney for Michael Demirdjian, the La

Crescenta teen accused of beating to death two boys on a playground, said

a man arrested by police and later released was at the playground on the

night the boys were killed.

Charles Mathews, Demirdjian’s attorney, also said prosecutors in the

case agreed to allow his client to take a polygraph test but had not

heard from Glendale police about scheduling one.

Mathews maintains the innocence of his 15-year-old client, saying he

was only a witness to the bludgeonings. Mathews said Adam Walker, a

19-year-old Montrose man, was also at Valley View Elementary School on

July 22. The bodies of Christopher McCulloch, 13, and Blaine Talmo Jr.,

14, were found on the playground shortly after 8 p.m. July 23.

Mathews said his client is willing to testify against the man who

choked and beat the boys to death.

The killings occurred in a fit of rage, sparked by an argument between

a man and Christopher that ended with the deaths of the two boys, Mathews

said. When Demirdjian knelt to check on Christopher, he got blood on his

shoes and the man threw Blaine’s wallet at him, Mathews said. In fear for

his life, Demirdjian ran home with the wallet still in his hand, which is

one piece of evidence that police used to link Demirdjian to the

slayings, Mathews said.

Demirdjian’s preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for Tuesday

morning, was delayed until Sept. 20. Judge Barbara Lee Burke granted

Mathews’ request to not permit media representatives to take pictures of

Demirdjian in the courtroom because of his age.

Walker’s attorney, Steven Flanagan, declined to comment Tuesday

evening.

Walker was arrested by Glendale Police on July 25 on suspicion of the

slayings but released the following day when the L.A. county district

attorney’s office declined to file charges against him. Walker was

transferred into the custody of Burbank Police in connection with a

burglary investigation.

Walker was officially arrested July 28 by Burbank Police and is being

held in a Los Angeles County jail on $60,000 bail on attempted burglary

and conspiracy to commit burglary charges, according to court records.

Six other men were arrested in connection with the alleged series of

burglaries, Burbank Police said. Five of the men were being held Tuesday

night in various Los Angeles County jails, each on $60,000 bail. The

identity of the sixth man could not be confirmed Tuesday night.

Grant E. Meyer, 18, of Burbank, Jason Rabine, 18, of Glendale, and

Keith W. Shill, 18, of Glendale, were arrested July 27 on suspicion of

burglary, attempted burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Gregory

Furnish, 18, of Montrose and Nathan Casey, 18, of La Crescenta, were

arrested July 27 on suspicion of attempted burglary and conspiracy to

commit burglary, according to court records.

The men are due in Burbank court Thursday for preliminary hearings.