Authorities ask for help in Perris cold case murder investigation

PERRIS, Calif. — Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit investigators are asking for the public’s help identifying and locating a man suspected in an August, 2016 cold case murder investigation involving a man whose body was found at Foss Field Park in Perris. 

Although the case was initially classified as a “suspicious death” investigation, based on evidence gathered at the scene and other information and leads officials have developed, the case was later upgraded to a homicide investigation.

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Deputies from the Perris Sheriff’s Station began investigating the murder Aug. 23, 2016, after someone called 911 to report finding the man.

“Deputies arrived within one minute of the call and located (the victim) unconscious and unresponsive on a park bench,” Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit Sgt. Wallace Clear reported at the time.

“The deputies immediately noticed the male had injuries consistent with an assault and paramedics were called to the scene,” Wallace explained in a press release about the incident and investigation.

Officials quickly determined the man had already succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

SEE ORIGINAL AND UPDATED STORIES: “Suspicious death” investigation underway after man’s body found at Perris park

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the victim as Jason Michael Munoz.

“The Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Central Homicide Unit has been working toward developing leads on outstanding homicides that occurred within the city of Perris,” officials reported yesterday in a social media release.

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Although authorities do not yet know the name of the alleged suspect, in yesterday’s release officials provided a sketch of a man they allege may have been responsible for Munoz’s death.

Along with the sketch, officials have described the potential suspect as a Hispanic male, approximately five-foot-six, weighing between 140 and 150 pounds.

Anyone with information in regard to the suspect should contact Riverside Sheriff Department’s Central Homicide Investigator Bishop 951-955-2777.

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


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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.

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