Officials investigating second Thermal murder in three days
THERMAL, Calif. — Authorities are continuing to investigate a man’s murder after his lifeless body was found in the area of Fillmore St. and Ave. 78 in Thermal Tuesday morning, July 21.
Tuesday morning’s homicide was the second of three suspicious death investigations to rock the east valley over the last four days. Based on the ongoing investigations, one of the earlier suspicious death investigations has since been changed to a homicide investigation.
The first murder investigation began after a man’s body was discovered in a burning vehicle in Thermal early Saturday morning, July 18. The third investigation began when a man’s body was discovered in the area of Ave. 49 and Calle Abelia, in Coachella Wednesday morning, July 22.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Banning business destroyed by blaze
Hours-long Perris stand off leads to arrest
Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the area around 8 a.m., after receiving reports of a dead body, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche has since reported.
Officials are investigating a murder after a man’s lifeless body was discovered in Thermal Tuesday morning. Marco Gonzalez photo
“When deputies arrived, they located an adult male who was the victim of a homicide,” explained Brosche.
Investigators from Thermal Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.
The name of the victim is being withheld by officials, pending identification and notification of the man’s family.
“The suspect(s) are currently outstanding,” according to Brosche.
SEE RELATED:
Homicide confirmed – Victim remains unidentified, after body found in burning car
UPDATE: Third death in four days rocks east valley – Victim ID’d
Officials have not said if any of the three deaths may be related and all three investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Deanne of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Celaya at the Thermal Station at (760) 863-8990. Callers can refer to incident file number C202030007 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips Online Form.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is 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.