Exclusive | Disturbing new details emerge in 15-year-old girl’s alleged murder by ex, 20, in LA suburb — as accused ɠυɳɱαɳ’s secret exposed

The 20-year-old accused of murdering his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend at her Arcadia home Thursday drunkenly barged into the house that morning before returning later to allegedly gun her down, her distraught family said.

Close relatives of the slain teen, Mina Kurdian, described to the California Post the terrifying lead-up to the alleged 𝘬iᩚlling — while also revealing they believed suspect Paul Anthony Cruz Jr. was only 17 years old.

“He was never presented to any of the family members,” a relative said, adding Mina’s loved ones would not have approved if they knew Cruz was an adult. Her family said the two began an on-again, off-again relationship about a year ago, but she largely kept the relationship under wraps.

Mina Kurdian indoors, wearing a dark blue zip-up top with a blue "Supreme" strap across her chest, with shelves containing shoes and boxes in the background.

Mina Kurdian, 15, was alleged ɠυɳned down in her Arcadia home by her ex-boyfriend, Paul Anthony Cruz Jr., 20. Obtained by the CA Post

“I think she was embarrassed to say he was 20. If I knew he was, it would be a whole different situation,” the relative said.

Mina’s grandfather, Nick Eftekhari, told The Post she broke up with Cruz several weeks before the alleged murder. Cruz wanted to make up with her, he said, and became upset when they couldn’t reconcile.

On the day of her alleged murder, a disturbed Mina texted family about a frightening encounter she had with Cruz early that morning, when he showed up at her home drunk and belligerent around 5 a.m.

Police tape surrounds a crime scene in Arcadia, California, where a teenage girl was killed.

On the day of her alleged murder, a disturbed Mina texted family about a frightening encounter she had with her ex early that morning. RMG News

Family said Cruz had a bottle of Hennessy and appeared to have stayed up all night. The pair fought, and she kicked him out of the apartment.

“[He] was just a drunk coming there and thinking that it’s okay for him to show up whenever he wants,” a relative said, adding Cruz was emboldened to confront Mina because only her mother and sister were home at the time.

After Cruz left, Mina made plans to visit a relative’s house, her family said.

Portrait of Mina Kurdian.

The teenager aspired to be a cosmetologist, loved spending time with her family and enjoyed theme parks, her family said. Facebook/Mina Kurdian

Her last text message to one family member, around 8:53 a.m., said she was going to shower and get ready.

Cruz then returned to the apartment around 11 a.m. and tried unsuccessfully to break a glass door, family said. He resorted to śh́óóting through a window to gain entry, they added.

Cruz then shot Mina in the head. Police pronounced her dead at the scene.

Police said Cruz fled the scene and he was later found in a Petco parking lot in Pasadena with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As of Friday morning, he remained in the hospital in ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal condition.

A crime scene on a sidewalk in Arcadia, California, marked with police tape.

Mina’s family said the suspected 𝘬iᩚller resorted shot through a window to gain entry before the alleged murder. RMG News

Police cars and yellow crime scene tape outside a Turner's Outdoorsman store.

Authorities said Cruz fled the scene and he was later found in a parking lot in Pasadena with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. RMG News

Mina’s family hopes the accused 𝘬iᩚller lives to face justice.

“She was just a kid,” a second family member told The Post.

The teenager aspired to be a cosmetologist, loved spending time with her family and enjoyed theme parks, her family said, describing her as “funny, happy and adventurous.”

An investigation into Mina’s dєatᩚh is ongoing.


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