Crime & Safety
Freeway Murder Suspect Will Receive Mental Health Evaluations
Aram Sarukhanyan was in court Thursday, where his attorney Daniel Behesnilian told Judge Stan Blumenfeld that Sarukhanyan pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
A sheriff's deputy led murder suspect Aram Sarukhanyan in handcuffs and shackles into a Pasadena Superior courtroom on Thursday, .
"He's going to be mentally evaluated," Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Debra Archuleta told Patch.
Sarukhanyan, who is charged with murdering his cousin Adrine Arzumanyan and allegedly pushing her body out of a moving car onto the Foothill (210) Freeway in April, will have two mental health evaluations before his next court hearing on Jan. 12.
Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The 28-year-old Tujunga man is charged with one count each of murder and brandishing a firearm at a person in a motor vehicle, authorities said. Sarukhanyan could face more than 50 years to life in prison.
Sarukhanyan allegedly pointed a handgun at a driver who tried to stop him immediately after he pushed his cousin's body out of the vehicle, according to the district attorney.
Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Sarukhanyan was found alongside the southbound Glendale (2) Freeway near Mountain Street and had sustained self-inflicted gunshot wounds in an apparent suicide attempt, said sheriff's homicide detective Lt. Michael Rosson of the Crescenta Valley Station. He was hospitalized at Huntington Memorial Hospital and released on May 10.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
