Sage missing person case now a murder investigation – One in custody

Although authorities have not yet provided any official details, multiple sources indicate that a Sage missing person case has turned into a murder investigation. According to jail and Superior Court records, a person believed to be a relative of the missing victim has been arrested and was scheduled to be seen in court earlier today, Friday, June 21.

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Despite the lack of official details, what is known is that deputies assigned to the Southwest Sheriff’s Station began investigating the report of a missing person Monday morning, June 17, after the 29-year-old victim, Daniel “Danny” Mancia, failed to return home from work the prior evening.

Various sources, including family, friends, and co-workers, indicate Danny was employed at Talley Metal Fabrication in San Jacinto.

According to his family via a flier circulated throughout southwest Riverside County as well as various social media platforms, the victim was last seen on DePortola Rd. in Temecula the prior evening, between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“This behavior is unusual for Daniel as he normally is in for the night by 9 p.m. and then (rises) early for his drive into work which he never misses,” the flier explained.

Deputies located Daniel’s white Toyota Corolla about 25 mile’s from his place of employment the morning he was reported missing. According to the flier, his car was found on Bruce Ln., just east of Via View, around 6 a.m.

The car had a flat tire and was parked along the side of the road, facing toward his residence with its doors locked, the flier explained.

Riverside County jail inmate records indicate that sheriff’s officials arrested Edgar Hernan Mancia, 28, just two days after beginning their investigation.

He was arrested around 4 a.m. on San Ignacio Rd. in the unincorporated community of Sage and later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of murder with malice.

Edgar Mancia was scheduled to be arraigned this morning; however Superior Court records indicate his hearing was disposed and rescheduled for July 8. Online records also indicate the alleged suspect is being defended by Deputy Public Defender Kathleen Pedro and that his prosecution is currently assigned to Deputy District Attorney Daniel Delimon.

Superior Court records also indicated Edgar Mancia has prior arrests for DUI in May 2013 and October 2014. He pleaded guilty in both cases and was granted probation and ordered to pay various court fees and fines amounting to $18,506.84. Records indicate he has paid $4,763.34. toward his total combined balances and that he has been making monthly payments of $50.00, of which he is current and up to date.

As of this report, he remains in custody, held in lieu of $1 million bail and sheriff’s officials had not yet responded to an RCNS request for information related to their investigation. 

Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact Southwest Station Investigator Guimont at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number SW191680041 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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

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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.