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LA-area father arrested on suspicion of killing missing son

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The father of a Southern California 5-year-old who has been missing for two months was arrested Friday afternoon in Las Vegas on suspicion of his son's murder, authorities said.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's statement said Aramazd Andressian Sr., 35 was arrested in coordination with authorities in Las Vegas and was being held there on $10 million bail.

Sheriff's investigators presented evidence to LA County prosecutors, who deemed it sufficient to arrest Andressian, the statement said.

But the department would give no further details on what that evidence was, or what Andressian was doing in Nevada.

Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, declined to say what evidence led to Andressian's arrest. A news conference is scheduled for Monday.

A message left seeking comment from Andressian's attorney was not immediately returned.

Investigators have been searching for 5-year-old Aramazd Andressian Jr. since his father was found passed out in a large park in South Pasadena on April 22. Sheriff's officials say the father had taken prescription pills and was found in a car doused in gasoline.

The father was initially arrested on suspicion of child endangerment, but he was later released.

Authorities say the boy was last seen April 20 with his father, leaving Disneyland in Anaheim.

The Sheriff's Department has been mostly silent on the case since serving a search warrant at the home of Andressian Sr.'s mother nearly a month ago.

They have combed Arroyo Seco Park in South Pasadena where the father was found several times in the past few months, using dogs and drones to help in the search.

The boy's mother has publicly pleaded for his safe return.

"To my son, this message is for you my love: be brave, honey," Ana Estevez said through tears on May 18. "I am counting the days until I see you honey and I will never stop looking for you."

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Associated Press Writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this story from Phoenix.

FILE - In this May. 17, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau Capt. Christopher Bergner, center, stands by a poster of Aramazd Andressian Jr., a 5-year-old boy who has been missing for several weeks from South Pasadena, Calif., at a news conference outside the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says the father of a 5-year-old who has been missing for two months, 35-year-old Aramazd Andressian Sr. was arrested on Friday, June 23, 2017, afternoon in Las Vegas and is being held there on $10 million bail. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The Associated Press
FILE - In this Thursday, May 18, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles County Sheriff and South Pasadena Police departments search a drain in the Arroyo Seco wash in South Pasadena, Calif., looking for 5-year-old Aramazd Andressian, Jr., who has been missing since April 22. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says the father of a 5-year-old who has been missing for two months has been arrested on suspicion of his son's murder. The department said in a statement that 35-year-old Aramazd Andressian Sr. was arrested on Friday, June 23, 2017, afternoon in Las Vegas and is being held there on $10 million bail. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Los Angeles Times via AP, File) The Associated Press
In this photo released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, homicide detectives arrest Aramazd Andressian Sr. on suspicion of his son's murder in Las Vegas Friday, June 23, 2017. His 5-year-old Aramazd Andressian Jr. was last seen Friday. April 21. The department said in a statement that 35-year-old Aramazd Andressian Sr. is being held there on $10 million bail. (Nicole Nishida/Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department via AP) The Associated Press
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