Body found on Pinyon Pines hiking trail – suicide suspected
PINYON PINES — Officials are investigating the death of a man whose lifeless body was discovered near a hiking trail in the area of Vista Point and Highway 74, Monday afternoon, June 3. According to sheriff’s officials, the man died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Temecula’s new fire chief arrested after alleged domestic disturbance
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, along with other emergency personnel, were first alerted to the discovery around noon, after an area resident and his daughter stumbled upon the man’s body on a trail about 200 feet from nearby Highway 74.
Deputies who responded to the scene confirmed the victim was deceased and after further investigation determined the man had possibly taken his own life, Riverside Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Vasquez later reportedly said in response to media inquiries about the incident.
Deputies and others who responded to the scene of yesterday’s discovery later determined a man had possibly taken his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot. Doug Hassett photo
The victim has not yet been publicly identified, pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.
La Quinta resident Doug Hassett later posted to social media that he and his daughter Katelyn discovered the man’s body while hiking and taking pictures.
“Well, this isn’t how I planned my day, but Katelyn and I went on a short hike this morning off of 74 Hwy, near the second overlook and found a dead hiker,” Hassett explained. “Please pray for the gentleman we found and for his family. Also, please pray for Katelyn, she is quite upset.”
The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing and no further details had been released as of this report.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
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.
Is there an update on this story yet? My son’s been missing and I can’t find him for over a month now. I just lost my son bobby Anderson in Dec. Due to a horrific motorcycle accident in Hemet on Florida and Ramona. Pls.im scared to the point of almost insanitiy.. is the an update to where that poor victims family s been notified and it can take me off the hook of insanity here pls. Thk u