UPDATE: Hemet man charged with murder after woman’s lifeless body found in roadway
WINCHESTER — Officials investigating last Saturday morning’s murder of a Temecula woman have released additional information about their investigation; including the names of the victim and her boyfriend, who has since been charged with her murder.
Deputies found the victim’s lifeless body “in a roadway” in the area of Winchester and Pourroy Roads in the unincorporated area of Winchester, after responding to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. In their first release regarding the murder, officials described finding a man “with significant injuries” on the ground not far from the victim’s body.
SEE RELATED: WINCHESTER: Man with “significant injuries” arrested for murder after woman’s body found in roadway
Sheriff’s Central Homicide Investigators arrested 48-year-old Jeffrey Kruger, of Hemet, and later charged him in the murder of his girlfriend, Deborah Warner, 47, of Temecula. RSO booking photo
Officials have not explained how the victim was killed, nor have they specified the nature or extent of the alleged suspect’s injuries, but his booking photo shows freshly healing injuries to his right temple, forehead and face. It is not known what other injuries he might have sustained.
Officials had previously announced the arrest of the alleged suspect, identified today in an updated press release as Jeffrey Michael Kruger, 48, of Hemet. He was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on Monday on suspicion of murder, murder with malice and domestic violence.
In today’s update, officials also identified 47-year-old, Deborah Warner as the woman killed while most of her friends and family slept, shortly before 3:45 a.m.
Kruger, a former Marine from Palmdale, CA, remains in custody on $1 million bail.
Superior Court records revealed his arraignment, which had been scheduled for this morning at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, was rescheduled this morning for Apr. 11.
He has been charged with murder with the enhancement of using a deadly weapon, and domestic violence with the enhancements of using a deadly weapon as well as causing great bodily injury.
News of victim’s death caused “shock, horror, disbelief.”
In the days immediately following Warner’s death and Kruger’s arrest, friends who knew both expressed shock and outrage at the tragic and unexpected turn the couple’s lives had taken.
One person who claimed to know the victim wrote on social media, “She was one of my friends and may Jeff Kruger suffer every day for the rest of his life!!!”
Another wrote, “Heartbroken. Simply devastated. Rest with the Angels tonight my sweet friend.”
If anyone sensed danger or had any idea the couple’s relationship was headed for such disaster, nobody is mentioning it publicly.
The couple announced their relationship in an Oct. 1, 2017 Facebook post and both their profile pages featured photographs showing the pair during happier times – smiling into the camera, hugging and kissing.
One of those images posted by Warner just days before her death showed the couple is pictured kissing in the bleachers of a public event. In the comments section of the image, Kruger had written, “Really love this picture of us! How we’ll be for a long long time.”
Warner’s response, “Me too babes,” gives no hint to the deadly conclusion their relationship would come to less than three weeks later.
Investigators have asked that anyone who was travelling in the area of Winchester and Pourroy Roads and saw anything possibly related to this incident to contact Investigator Loureiro of the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3524. Callers can refer to incident file number SW180900004 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego 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.
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 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.