Amber Willard
GLENDALE -- The same day that Michael Demirdjian, the boy accused of
beating to death two teens on a school playground, pleaded not guilty to
murder charges, at least two others arrested in connection with the
deaths were released.
Demirdjian's attorney, Charles Mathews, said his 15-year-old client
was with Christopher McCulloch and Blaine Talmo Jr. on July 22, hours
before the boys' bodies were found at Valley View Elementary School in La
Crescenta.
"He felt himself threatened when he took off," Mathews said Tuesday
evening of Demirdjian, who is being tried as an adult. Mathews would not
elaborate on if the boys were still alive when Demirdjian saw them last.
Cristina E. Kim and Joseph Sung Song, both of La Crescenta, were
released from custody Tuesday after the L.A. County District Attorney's
Office declined filing charges against them. Kim, 20, and Song, 18, were
arrested Sunday afternoon on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap to commit
robbery.
According to news reports, three juveniles -- two boys and a girl --
were also arrested Sunday in connection with the slayings, but no charges
were filed against them Tuesday. It is not known whether the three were
still in custody or released.
"We want to make sure we have our facts straight ... and we want to
make sure our investigation is thorough," said Victoria Pipkin,
spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office. Charges can still be
filed if more evidence surfaces, police said.
No one answered telephone calls to Kim's home, and a woman who
answered at Song's home hung up.
A Montrose man, 19-year-old Adam Walker, was arrested last week in
connection with the killings but was later released due to lack of
evidence, police said.
Los Angeles area defense attorney Mark Geragos said the releases
create the impression of reasonable doubt.
"The D.A. in Glendale has got to be shaking their heads," said
Geragos, who is not involved in this case but has clients who are
suspects in other Glendale cases.
"It is a classic example of police engaging in a fishing expedition.
They are bringing them in without enough evidence to get to coerce them
into some kind of confession," Geragos said.
Police did not return calls for comment about Geragos's statements.
Police had previously refused to comment on the case, saying it could
jeopardize the resources of 20 officers and hundreds of hours of
investigation.
After Demirdjian entered a not-guilty plea in Glendale court Tuesday
