A California man has been arrested and charged with murder after his roommate was found buried in their backyard.
On Friday, Oct. 18, the Riverside Police Department (RPD) announced in a press release that officers arrested 48-year-old Richard Thomas Martinez after they discovered human remains in the backyard of his home.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15 at around 7:45 p.m. local time, officers were called to a Riverside home on the 8700 block of Sylvan Drive in the Arlanza neighborhood after receiving reports that one of the home’s residents, 31-year-old Bradley Minder, had not “been seen or heard from for several days,” which prompted them to search the home.
After his arrest, homicide detectives booked Martinez into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of felony first-degree murder and murder with malice, Riverside County inmate records show.
“During their initial investigation, officers learned that one of the occupants had made statements claiming he killed his roommate,” police wrote. “That occupant was detained, and a search of the property revealed a possible crime scene in the backyard.”
Richard Thomas Martinez’s mugshot.
RiversidePD/Facebook
Because of the case’s “suspicious circumstances,” the RPD said that cadaver dogs, detectives from the robbery-homicide unit and specialists from the forensics unit responded to assist with the investigation in the backyard.
The cadaver dogs indicated to investigators that there was freshly disturbed soil in the backyard, police said, and detectives began digging in the area, where they found human remains.
The Riverside Sheriff-Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Minder, police added.
“Their preliminary investigation revealed the victim and suspect are roommates,” RPD alleged. “During an altercation, the suspect killed Mr. Minder then buried his body in the backyard of their home.”
The Robert Presley Detention Center, where Martinez is being held.
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Martinez made his initial court appearance on Oct. 18 at a Riverside courthouse.
Police added that the investigation is still ongoing and ask that anyone with additional information about the investigation contact Detective Ricky Barajas at (951) 353-7213 or EBarajas@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Richard Glover at (951) 353-7134 or RGlover@RiversideCA.gov.
Anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous can contact the department through the Atlas 1 app.
