Body of missing Bass Lake Realtor found buried in Mojave Desert, deputies say
A 75-year-old man who’s been missing since Monday was killed, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Tyson Pogue said Robert Boyajian, a Bass Lake Realtor, was killed at Bass Lake about midnight Saturday and the alleged suspect put Boyajian in a body bag and a blanket and buried him in the Mojave Desert.
He was found buried Wednesday.
Pogue identified the suspect as 21-year-old Audrik Matevosian of Clovis, who worked for Boyajian as an IT employee.
Pogue said Matevosian confessed to killing Boyajian and claimed the victim made disparaging remarks about his family and was out for financial gain. Pogue viewed the killing as premeditated homicide.
Prior to the homicide, deputies said Matevosian bought a body bag from Amazon and also rented a vehicle on Friday.
According to Pogue, Matevosian called the victim to let him know he was home and later went to Bass Lake. When Boyajian went to bed, Matevosian allegedly killed him.
Pogue said Matevosian withdrew $1,000 from a bank in Clovis on July 14 and made two more attempts to withdraw but failed.
Prior to the discovery, an employee requested a welfare check on Boyajian and deputies located Boyajian’s vehicle in his garage and also found an Apple Watch he always wore inside the home and a briefcase. His cell phone and wallet were missing.
