Prosecutors in San Francisco are seeking to transfer a murder case from juvenile to adult court for a 17-year-old suspect, a move that could make the individual the first minor tried as an adult in the city in more than ten years. The decision hinges on the alleged violent nature of the crime, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Max Maltzman.
Maltzman was last seen at his apartment on January 6, 2023, and was reported missing shortly thereafter. His body was discovered more than two weeks later, on January 23, inside an abandoned warehouse at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Investigators believe Maltzman was lured to the warehouse with the promise of a party before he was attacked. His body was reportedly concealed under a large steel plate.
A significant clue in the investigation was a graffiti tag, "EBOK," scrawled above Maltzman's body with an arrow pointing downwards. Classmates later informed investigators that a former peer, who was a graffiti artist and attended Raoul Wallenberg High School, used this tag. While the graffiti was present at the scene, the suspect was not identified and arrested until November 2024, nearly two years after Maltzman's death.
Cellphone data and surveillance footage placed Maltzman and the suspect together, entering the warehouse. Approximately 20 minutes after they entered, Maltzman made a 911 call. Police responded to the location at the time but found no one. Several teenagers later told investigators that the suspect had admitted to the killing, with one person claiming the suspect sent a photograph of bloodied knuckles.
The suspect's former girlfriend told investigators that the murder occurred because Maltzman had allegedly bragged about sexual assault, a claim authorities have stated is unsubstantiated. Maltzman's parents have described the rumor as cruel and baseless, used to justify their son's murder.
Maltzman's mother, Jennifer Gosselin, recounted the horrific scene, describing blood on the walls, her son's body hidden underground, and the killer's tag pointing to his location.
The defense is arguing to keep the case in juvenile court, citing the defendant's past fentanyl addiction and describing him as an "immature and dysfunctional youth." The defense attorney argued that planning a fake party does not constitute high sophistication. If the case remains in juvenile court, the defendant would be released before turning 25. Conversely, if convicted in adult court, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
Judge Anne Costin is scheduled to rule on Tuesday whether the defendant, now 21, should be prosecuted as an adult.