$1 million arrest warrant obtained for suspect sought in JV trailer fire that killed man

JURUPA VALLEY — Authorities have obtained a $1 million arrest warrant for a man they allege was responsible for killing a homeless man and burning his body in a trailer fire last May.

During an exhaustive investigation, sheriff’s homicide investigators developed leads and gathered information that eventually led them to identifying 37-year-old, August Nielsen III, of Jurupa Valley as the man they say was responsible for the murder of 40-year-old, Michael Reynoso.

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The homicide investigation began May 8, when Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Station were dispatched to a trailer fire burning in a rural area of Jurupa Valley. The trailer was located near Van Buren Blvd. and Clay St., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Brosche explained earlier today.

When deputies arrived at the scene of the fire, they located a burnt body inside the trailer and Jurupa Valley Station and Central Homicide Unit investigators assumed the investigation.

“Throughout the next several months, further investigation identified the human remains as Michael Reynoso and his death was determined to be a homicide,” Brosche explained. “Further investigation revealed that Nielson was involved in Reynoso’s death.”

Reynoso’s concerned family and friends had been searching for Reynoso, known to those who loved him as “Mad Mike.”

Concerned family members had taken out a missing person’s report on him last May; posting digital fliers announcing their search all over social media sites dedicated to locating missing persons.

Several of Reynoso’s friends and co-workers were reportedly the last one’s to see the victim alive before his murder, and they reported he had been depressed and “drinking a lot” after a family fall-out.

Family members reported that Reynoso had “been homeless a few times,” but he had always remained in contact with his family and friends – until May 5, just three days before the fire that destroyed the trailer his remains were found in.

“A warrant was issued for Nielsen for his involvement in the murder of Reynoso,” Brosche explained, saying, “All investigative leads are currently being followed up on and investigators are actively looking for Nielsen.”

Officials have described Nielson as a white male, standing 5’11 and weighing 175 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is known to frequent both Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who knows Nielson’s whereabouts are encouraged to call Central Homicide Unit Investigator Dickey at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number JV181280014 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip anonymously using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; 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 28 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 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.