Man Pleads Guilty to Killing 5-Year-Old Son

[Photo: Aramazd Andression, Sr. (left) and Jr. (right)]

Aramazd Andressian, Sr., changed his plea to “guilty” on Tuesday in a Los Angeles courtroom for the murder of his 5-year-old son, who was found in Santa Barbara County near Lake Cachuma.

He entered the open guilty plea to one count of first-degree murder during a preliminary hearing, a sentence was not negotiated with the District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County DA’s Office stated. He is expected to face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

According to a report obtained by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, 35-year-old Andressian Sr. told investigators where the body of his son was located in the days surrounding his arrest in Las Vegas on June 23 and his extradition back to Southern California on June 30. The report shows he also told the investigators he had “harmed” the boy and “left him” out of revenge against his estranged wife for their divorce and custody battle.

The boy’s body was discovered on July 1 by Vista Point near Lake Cachuma.

Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Andressian Sr. with murder last month after the boy was reported missing on April 22 when he failed to show up for a child custody exchange. Andressian Sr. was then found unconscious outside his parked car at a South Pasadena park the morning of April 22, without his son. Detectives found the interior of the car soaked in gasoline, along with matches, a gas can, and a rag in the gas tank.

The specific area where the father allegedly left the child is blacked out in the July 3 DCFS report, reports the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley turned the case over to Los Angeles County stating she felt it was in the best interest of the victim and extended family.

“The evidence clearly supports the fact that it was planned, that it was premeditated. It was deliberate. He had this in mind before he actually committed the murder,” said Craig Hum, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney.