Article Last Updated: 9/13/2005 10:07 PM
Slain woman’s auto is found

Boyfriend called a suspect after dogs track scent

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

LA Daily News GLENDALE – A slain Glendale woman’s car was discovered
parked on a Glendale street Tuesday, and police announced her missing
boyfriend is a suspect in her slaying.

Odet Tsaturyan’s Honda Accord was found by a patrolling Glendale
police officer at 4 p.m. in the 600 block of Paula Avenue near the
Walt Disney Imagineering buildings. Until Tuesday, her missing
boyfriend, Artur Khanzadyan, 24, was considered only a “person of
interest” in the case.

However, bloodhounds on Tuesday tracked a scent from the Honda to
Khanzadyan’s home two miles away.

“As a result of the scent tracking and other information the
detectives have gleaned from this case, they are now considering Artur
a suspect in the homicide death of Odet,” said Sgt. Tom Lorenz, a
spokesman for the Glendale Police Department.

Tsaturyan, 24, was found dead Friday in the trunk of her boyfriend’s
car in Azusa. An autopsy has been completed, but the Coroner’s Office
is awaiting the results of toxicology tests before determining the
cause of death.

Khanzadyan and Tsaturyan both left their parents’ homes on Sept. 6 and
were reported missing. Tsaturyan never arrived at a party where she
was expected that evening.

Tsaturyan’s family had told police her boyfriend had been violent with
her, and they tried to keep her away from him.

The missing man’s father issued a tearful plea Monday for his son to
turn himself in, saying his son is not violent. Khanzadyan has no
criminal record, police said.

Neighbors told police that the Honda Accord had been parked in the 600
block of Paula since Saturday.

Monica Alvizures, a preschool teacher, watched as police looked around
the car for evidence.

“I’ve been here 11 years; I’ve never seen anything like this here so
close to home,” she said.

Police were still looking for Khanzadyan and they had not arrested any
of his family members, Lorenz said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 _alex.dobuzinskis@dailynews.com_
(mailto:alex.dobuzinskis@dailynews.com)