Grandson of slain Glendale couple hospitalized, delaying questioning by police

The sole publicly identified person of interest in the slaying of a Glendale couple found dead inside their home has been hospitalized with serious injuries, delaying detectives’ efforts to interview him, police said Monday.

Nathaniel Scheiern, the grandson of the couple found dead Sunday, was seriously injured in a one-vehicle car accident, Glendale police Sgt. Robert William said.

The crash occurred outside the city of Glendale at an undisclosed location, and investigators are waiting for Scheiern to recover before questioning him, William said.

Scheiern’s grandparents were found dead inside a bedroom of their home in the 600 block of Alexander Street after a relative called police and reported not hearing from them.

When officers arrived, they found the door open. No evidence of ransacking or theft was found, and police did not say how the couple were killed.

“We’re pretty confident the victims were targeted, and that it’s not a random act of violence,” William told The Times on Sunday.

Police have stopped short of calling Scheiern a suspect, describing him as a person of interest. He had been living with his grandparents for about a year, police said.

The Los Angeles County coroner identified one of the victims as William Karl Scheiern, 77. The female victim has not been named.

Hermik Khosrve, who has lived next to the couple for 26 years, dropped by the home Monday afternoon to place flowers on the front lawn, which was lined with police tape.

Their grandson had moved in about seven months ago, Khosrve said.

The female victim “was a very generous lady,” said a woman who worked at the victim’s dentist’s office.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, added that the victim paid for her grandson’s dental work. “She didn’t deserve this.”

Times Community staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.

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