MORENO VALLEY: UPDATE – Hemet resident arrested for Moreno Valley murder

January 24, 2016 Trevor Montgomery

Trevor Montgomery

UPDATE #2

An East Hemet resident is in custody for the murder of a man whose body was found in Moreno Valley on Friday, Jan. 22. The suspect and the victim were involved in an estranged relationship, Sgt. Wallace Clear, from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, wrote in a press release.

At about 12:30 p.m. on Friday, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Police Station responded to a 911 call on the 28000 block of Spruce Avenue, in Moreno Valley, after a property owner called to report they had discovered a dead body on their residential property.

Deputies responded to the location and confirmed the victim was deceased. The victim was identified by the property owner and later confirmed by the Coroner’s office as 54-year-old John Daughenbaugh. The property owner told law enforcement officials Daughennbaugh lived in California on a seasonal basis and rented living space on the property.

Based on the deputies initial investigation, investigators from the Moreno Valley Police Station and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

Following investigative leads, investigators identified Scott Edward Duncan, a 37-year-old, resident of the unincorporated area of East Hemet, as a possible suspect in the murder. Based on witness statements and evidence recovered during their investigation, investigators notified surrounding law enforcement agencies to stop and detain Duncan, if found. They described Duncan’s vehicle as a black Honda Civic.

Riverside PD officers spotted a vehicle matching the description provided by sheriff’s investigators at about 11:30 p.m., according to Lt. Dan Hoxmeier of the Riverside Police Department. Officers followed the vehicle to the area of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Center Street in Highgrove, where they conducted a high-risk felony stop. Officers identified the driver as Duncan and he detained without incident.

Sheriff investigators transported Duncan back to Moreno Valley, where he was interviewed regarding his alleged involvement in the homicide, Sgt. Clear wrote in the press release.

Based on evidence and interviews, investigators arrested Duncan for murder on Saturday, Jan. 23, at about 2:30 a.m. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Duncan is scheduled to appear at the Riverside Hall Of Justice on Jan. 27, at 8:00 a.m.

Sheriff’s officials have not released any information regarding the circumstances of Daughenbaugh’s death.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Bishop of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777, or Investigator Tometich at the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV160220202 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]