Officials investigating in-custody death of Murrieta inmate

MURRIETA — Sheriff’s officials today are investigating the death of an in-custody inmate at Murrieta’s Cois Byrd Detention Center. The adult male was found unresponsive early Saturday morning, Dec. 15. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to sheriff’s officials, who say that no foul play is suspected in the inmate’s death.

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As the death investigation was getting underway, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Joshua Parker explained that about 4 a.m.,
deputies assigned to the jail located an adult male unresponsive “within his cell in a housing area of the facility.”

 Deputies immediately summoned jail medical personnel, as well as Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire and other emergency personnel, and began life-saving measures.

Despite their efforts, when Cal-Fire arrived they pronounced the man deceased at the scene.

Based on the circumstances Riverside Sheriff’s investigators along with Southwest Station’s Investigations Bureau and Cois Byrd Detention Center Investigators responded and assumed the investigation. 

The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of the man’s family, and officials have not specified why the person was incarcerated or how long he had been at the facility.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time,” said Parker. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Investigator Franchville of the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number SC183490005 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year 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 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.