SWAT raid linked to triple homicide, believe tied to Bakersfield missing persons case

JURUPA VALLEY — Officials from multiple agencies investigating a triple homicide descended on a rural, Jurupa Valley property early Thursday, Apr. 18. According to Riverside County sheriff’s officials, the home on the 5200 block of Stone Avenue is a “residence of interest” in a homicide investigation that began in Burbank earlier this week. Sources indicate the homicide investigation is tied to a Bakersfield missing person’s investigation.

Burbank PD requested assistance from Riverside County Sheriff’s Department after officers discovered the bodies of three men inside a red Jeep Tribute. The Jeep had been found parked on the 1300 block of South Varney Street in Burbank, about 56 miles east of where officials served Thursday’s search warrant. Officers reportedly found the bodies of three men inside the SUV.

The Jeep, which had Tennessee plates, matched the description of a vehicle that was last seen with three missing Bakersfield men, one of whom had just returned home after being stationed in Tennessee for the Army.

Two of the three victims were later identified as brothers Lucas Amiama, 23, and Jan Carlos “J.C.” Amiama, 21. Officials have not yet released if the third dead man is Carlos Lopez, who had been reported missing with the two brothers.

According to family members, the three men had been headed to 5250 Stone Avenue in one of the Amiama brothers’ vehicles, a red Jeep Tribute – before their disappearance. The three missing men had been scheduled to return to Bakersfield Friday evening and family members reported the trio missing when they failed to return and stopped responding to the families attempts to contact them.

“We believe their disappearance to be heinous in nature,” family members shared in an online missing persons release that pleaded for information about their loved ones’ disappearances.

Although the family explained the missing men’s last location was not known, they were on a property inside a neighborhood with hills near what appeared to be a red barn. Family members also reported that a final picture from one the three men showed a German shepherd and hammock in the background.

Burbank PD officials soon discovered the Jeep the three victims were found in was linked to the missing persons investigation. During their investigation, officials interviewed the family members and others and began to develop leads and gather information that eventually led them to the Jurupa Valley home.

Personnel from the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and Central Homicide Unit assisted Burbank detectives in serving a search warrant at the Stone Avenue address, located near Stone Avenue Elementary School, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained after the service of the search warrant.

“Based on the circumstances and evidence found at the scene, the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit assumed the homicide investigation,” said Clear.

Officials close to the investigation say they have found evidence that a crime might have been committed at the home. Family of the missing trio believe the men were possibly killed at the home before their bodies were moved to Burbank in the Jeep.

Neighbors later reported seeing an armored tactical rescue vehicle approaching the house while helicopters circled overhead.

According to area residents, the family that resides at the home moved there about a year ago and had been making upgrades to the home, including the large, red barn where much of Thursday’s investigation appeared to be centered in and around.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Gonzales at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number R181080005 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.