“Suspicious death” investigation underway after man’s body found at Perris park
UPDATED: Wednesday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m.
See Original Story and Photos below.
PERRIS, Calif. — Officials investigating a possible homicide that occurred at Perris’ Foss Field Park have identified a man whose body was discovered deceased at one of the park’s picnic tables.
Although the case was initially classified as a suspicious death investigation, based on evidence gathered at the scene and other information and leads officials have developed, the case has been changed to a homicide investigation.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the victim as Jason Michael Munoz.
Officials have not yet publicly identified any potential suspects in the victim’s death, and their investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Bishop at the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777, or Investigator Layos at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE162360013 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
Original Story: “Suspicious death” investigation underway after man’s body found at Perris park
PERRIS, Calilf — Officials are conducting a “suspicious death” investigation after a man’s lifeless body was found at a Perris park early Tuesday morning.
The victim, who has only been described as an adult male in his 30’s, and has not yet been publicly identified pending notification of his family, was discovered at Foss Field Park at 138 N. Perris Blvd.
Officials say they are conducting a suspicious death investigation after a man’s body was found at Perris’s Foss Field Park yesterday morning. The victim had “injuries consistent with an assault,” according to authorities. Loudlabs News photo
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Station, along with other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene at 6:47 a.m. after someone called 911 to report finding the man.
“Deputies arrived within one minute of the call and located (the victim) unconscious and unresponsive on a park bench,” according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear.
“The deputies ‘immediately noticed the male had injuries consistent with an assault and paramedics were called to the scene,” Wallace explained in a press release about the incident and investigation.
Officials soon determined the man had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Perris Station and the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
A witness at the park Tuesday morning said the park was cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape that was still up and could be seen as late as 2 p.m. The witness also said that fire trucks, patrol vehicles, and motorcycle officers were still at the scene more than five hours after the incident was reported.
Riverside County Public Information Officer Deputy Michael Vasquez said the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit was helping in the investigation, although the man’s death had not yet been classified as a homicide and was being investigated as a “suspicious death.”
This investigation still active and ongoing.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Bishop at the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777, or Investigator Layos at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE162360013 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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Loudlabs News photos
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.