Arrests Made in 2008 Slaying

Read about the arrests here:

Arrests have been made in the 2008 Santa Monica murder of a Russian- born artist, the Santa Monica Police Department announced Thursday.

Police Chief Timothy Jackman will release details during a press conference at 11 a.m. Friday. Until then, the department has declined to release any information about the case.

"Due to the fact that this investigation is currently ongoing, no additional information is being released until the conference is held," said spokesman Richard Lewis.

Alexander Merman's slaying was one five murders in Santa Monica in 2008.

Merman, 35, was found stabbed to death on March 19, 2008, in the 500 block of Montana Avenue by an apartment building manager who had been asked by Merman's mother to check on him.

The death of Merman, a Navy veteran, caused widespread concern in Santa Monica because it happened just four days after 21-year-old aspiring actress Juliana Maureen Redding was found murdered in her Santa Monica apartment.

Redding's death, however, was found to be unrelated.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

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