A 19-year-old man was charged Wednesday with murder in connection with his stepfather’s stabbing in Castaic on Valentine’s Day.
Terrance Blake Crawford pleaded not guilty to the charge, which includes an allegation that he personally used a knife during the commission of the crime.
Crawford was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $2 million bail, and is due back in a San Fernando courtroom March 19, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
An assault with a deadly weapon was reported at 1:35 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 32700 block of Ridge Top Lane, off Sierra Oak Trail and near The Old Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Arriving deputies found a man lying on the floor of the living room suffering from multiple stab wounds, sheriff’s officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was later identified as 62-year-old Bruce Whitney of Castaic, the sheriff’s department said.
He died from multiple sharp force injuries, according to the county medical examiner’s office.
Sheriff’s officials said homicide detectives identified Whitney’s stepson as a suspect. Crawford was taken into custody about 5:50 p.m. Saturday, according to jail records.