A 21-year-old man accused of killing his mother’s caretaker with a meat cleaver in Whittier last week is scheduled to appear at the Bellflower courthouse Thursday to say how he wants to plead to a charge of murder.
Alan Bedros Gozukara, whose arraignment was initially scheduled for Wednesday morning but pushed back one day, is charged with killing Aniy Cinoglu, 52, of Montebello at the home he shared with his mother. Her body was found in the backyard of the residence in the 12800 block of Stardell Street on Friday.
The victim and the suspect had argued outside the Whittier home shortly after noon Friday, authorities said, with someone inside the home hearing the argument and calling police, the Whittier Daily News reported.
Cinoglu died of chop wounds to her head and neck, according to coroner’s records. Authorities have not announced a motive for the killing.
Gozkukara was arrested the same day by Whittier police and has remained behind bars since then in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail records.
If convicted as charged, he could face up to 26 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.