Body found in Desert Hot Springs leads to murder investigation

July 3, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. — Authorities are investigating after a man’s body was discovered in the desert area of Afortunado Dr. and Santa Cruz Rd. in the unincorporated county area of Desert Hot Springs yesterday, Thursday, July 2.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
North State double homicide suspect killed in SoCal
Bomb threat forces hours-long closure of Temecula DMV
UPDATE: Officials ID Hemet man after pursuit ends in four-vehicle wreck
Deadly shooting between Moreno Valley family members called self-defense
UPDATE: Officials ID Perris couple killed in shootout with security guard outside Riverside nightclub

Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the area at 10:54 a.m., after receiving a 911 call from a person who reported finding a deceased male, Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit Rick Espinoza later said of the murder and ongoing investigation.

When deputies arrived they located a man with injuries and confirmed he was deceased, according to Espinoza; who did not specify the nature or extent of the victim’s injuries.

Sheriff and Coroner officials spent several hours processing the scene where a man’s deceased body was discovered in an open Desert Hot Springs field. Officials are calling the incident a homicide. KESQ News Channel 3 photo

The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending further investigation, positive identification, and notification of the man’s family.

Based on the circumstances, Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit investigators responded to the scene and assumed the investigation, according to Espinoza; who said, “This is an active investigation and no additional details are currently available.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to immediately contact Central Homicide Investigator Vasquez at (760) 393-3529 or (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number O201840011 and can remain anonymous.

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

This article sponsored by:

For more information, contact Bill Tyler at Century 21 Full Realty Service.

Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; 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 29 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 16 grandchildren.