Mistrial Declared in Slayings at School

After more than a week of deliberations, a Pasadena jury said Friday they were deadlocked in the case against 16-year-old Michael Hrayr Demirdjian, who was on trial for the bludgeoning deaths of two boys at a La Crescenta playground.

Jurors voted 8-4 in favor of guilt on the murder charges and were unable to come to a consensus on two robbery counts. Pasadena Superior Court Judge Teri Schwartz said she had “no choice but to declare a mistrial.” Schwartz was standing in for Judge Joseph De Vanon, who presided over the trial.

Prosecutors said they would pursue a retrial.

Demirdjian blinked rapidly but otherwise appeared calm. The 16-year-old, who was 15 when the slayings occurred, will remain in custody.

Blaine Talmo Jr., 14, and Chris McCulloch, 13, were beaten at Valley View Elementary School on the night of July 22, 2000.

Prosecutors argued that Demirdjian robbed and killed the teens as revenge for a botched drug deal. Prosecution witnesses testified that five days before the murders, a 19-year-old man named Adam Walker took $660 from Demirdjian without giving the teen the promised marijuana. Talmo allegedly introduced Demirdjian to Walker. Demirdjian, along with a group of other youths, then tried to “set up” and attack Walker, Barshop said.

Demirdjian testified that Walker committed the murders. Prosecutors said Walker is not a suspect.