UPDATE: Man’s remains found in shallow grave in Riverside ID’d, 2 arrested
UPDATED: 07/02/2016 11:00 a.m. With coroner’s release of identification
RIVERSIDE – Riverside County Coroner’s officials have released the name of a 31-year-old Riverside man found buried in a shallow grave. The murder investigation and search for the victim’s body began Saturday, June 18, at about 6 a.m. after the department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit received an anonymous tip about a possible homicide, according to Riverside Police Detective Rick Cobb.
The body of Michael Carmona, a resident of Riverside, was discovered shortly after 10 a.m., near the Santa Ana River bottom. The remains were discovered in an open field about a half-mile northwest of where Rubidoux Avenue ends, just north of Old Ranch Road.
Coroner’s officials are still working to determine Carmona’s exact time of death, according to a coroner’s release. However, Riverside Police Detective Rick Cobb said it looked like Carmona was buried about a week before his remains were found and recovered.
Westbound aerial view of the area where Carmona’s remains were discovered Saturday, June 18 by cadaver dogs assisting Riverside PD in a homicide investigation.
Carmona’s body was recovered from a shallow grave after cadaver dogs from Search Dog Resources were brought in to help locate the man’s remains. After searching the area for several hours the cadaver dogs located the victim’s body.
“The assistance provided by the members of Search Dog Resources was invaluable,” Detective Rick Cobb said about the discovery and subsequent arrests. “The teamwork and diligence of the canines and their handlers (were) the key to locating the crime scene. Without their assistance, we may not have found the victim.”
According to their website, “Search Dog Resources is an organization that supplies SAR dogs, search dogs, to law enforcement and other public service agencies in California at no cost. These highly-trained dog/handler teams certify to standards that meet or exceed both Cal EMA guidelines for search and rescue and also NIMS guidelines for federal resources. Dogs are certified in Area Search (Air Scent), Trailing, Cadaver (Human Remains Detection, both Land and Water), Basic Disaster, Firearms, Article Search, and Scent Matching. The founders have hundreds of hours of search experience for many jurisdictions.”
Jesus Renteria was one of two men arrested and charged in the death of a Riverside resident.
According to police officials, Jesus Alfredo Renteria, 24, and Richard Valles, 32, both transient residents of Riverside were located in the river bottom, not far from where Carmona’s remains were discovered. The two men were detained for further questioning and investigation into the murder. Both men were later arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
Other than the anonymous tip authorities received, officials have not yet revealed what led them to the suspects. Authorities have not released a motive for the murder.
A jail record search revealed Renteria has since been transferred to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He was booked on suspicion of murder as well as two warrants; one for possession of stolen property and the other for providing false identification to a police officer.
Valles was booked for a single count of murder.
The two men are both being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Both alleged suspects were in court Wednesday, June 22. However, neither entered pleas in court. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned July 6.
Richard Valles was one of two men arrested and charged in the death of a Riverside resident.
A Superior Court records search revealed a criminal complaint filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office alleged that Renteria used a knife “in the commission and attempted commission” of the murder. The complaint filed with the court also indicated Valles “personally and intentionally discharged a firearm and proximately caused great bodily injury and death.”
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Rick wheeler at (951) 353-7134 or Detective Rick Cobb at (951) 353-7135. Callers can refer to incident file number P16-108618 and can remain anonymous.
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