Sebastian Landau, 21, faces a murder charge and a deadly weapon allegation after his mother was found dead inside a Glendale home.
GLENDALE, Calif. — A 21-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge filed after his mother was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside a Glendale home earlier this week, according to court records and police.
Sebastian Landau is charged with one count of murder in the death of his mother, Yana Landau, 55. The charge includes an allegation that he used a deadly weapon during the crime. His plea marks the latest development in a case that began Monday evening, when Glendale police were called to a home in the 500 block of Justin Avenue after someone reported finding blood inside.
Officers responded at about 6 p.m. Nov. 9 and entered the residence, where they found a woman in her 50s who was dead, according to the Glendale Police Department. Investigators determined that she had suffered multiple stab wounds. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office later identified the woman as Yana Landau.
As officers searched the immediate area, they found Sebastian Landau sitting inside a parked vehicle, police said. Officers detained him and determined that he was the victim’s son. The Police Department identified him as the sole suspect in its investigation and arrested him on suspicion of murder. He was initially booked at the Glendale Police Jail.
Detectives also recovered a weapon they believe was used in the killing, according to police. Authorities have not publicly described the weapon, and investigators have not announced what they believe led to the stabbing. No possible motive had been disclosed as of Thursday.
Landau has remained in custody in lieu of $2 million bail since his arrest, according to reports citing Los Angeles County jail records. His not-guilty plea Thursday came after prosecutors formally charged him with murder. The filing of a criminal charge is an allegation, and Landau is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in court.
Police have released few details about what happened inside the home before officers arrived. Authorities have not publicly identified the person who initially reported finding blood, nor have they said whether anyone witnessed the stabbing. Investigators also have not disclosed whether there had been any earlier calls for service at the residence connected to the case.
Yana Landau was a longtime licensed esthetician who had worked in the beauty industry for more than 25 years, according to information from her business cited by PEOPLE. She had worked in New York City and Miami before establishing a practice in Los Angeles County. Police have not indicated that her work had any connection to the homicide investigation.
The Glendale Police Department has described the investigation as active and ongoing. The department said detectives were continuing to seek information about the circumstances surrounding Landau’s death while the criminal case proceeds separately through the courts.
Sebastian Landau is scheduled to return to court Dec. 2 in Pasadena, according to court information reported Thursday. No additional details about a possible motive or the circumstances preceding the killing had been publicly released.
Author note: Last updated November 12, 2026.