The circumstances surrounding the death of the 17-year-old girl who allegedly killed Santa Monica High School student Deanna Maran Nov. 17 may not be clear for months.
The teenager arrested for Maran’s murder, Katrina Sarkissian, died while in police custody the day after Maran was stabbed to death at a party in West Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Coroner’s Department said Sarkissian’s autopsy report may not be ready for eight weeks, pending lab results. Although Sarkissian’s body was examined on Nov. 21, toxicology reports and tissue samples have been sent outside of the coroner’s office.
“It could take a couple of months,” said an examiner at the coroner’s office. “At the age of 17, they are going to be very thorough.”
Sarkissian’s sister, an unidentified 15-year-old, has not been charged with Maran’s murder, although police are investigating her role into the popular sophmore’s death.
Witnesses say that about 10:30 p.m. on that fateful Saturday, Maran, who was standing in the street in front of the house where the party was held, fought with the 15-year-old suspect. Partygoers broke up the fight, but another one ensued shortly after with Sarkissian. Maran, 15, was subsequently stabbed with an unknown weapon, according to police. Instead of calling for an ambulance, Maran’s friends drove her to Santa Monica Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m. Sunday.
Sarkissian and the 15-year-old were arrested about 2 p.m. Sunday. But after collapsing during questioning, Sarkissian was rushed to UCLA Medical Center and died at 5:26 p.m., police said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 27, 2001. Read the original PDF.