What did Richard Martinez do? California man arrested after Roommate's body found buried in backyard

Richard Martinez (Image via Facebook/Riverside Police Department)
Richard Martinez (Image via Facebook/Riverside Police Department)

A California man named Richard Martinez has been arrested for allegedly killing his roommate. When a missing report of a resident in the Arlanza neighborhood was filed, the police learned about the person's roommate's statement. Upon searching the property, they called it a "possible crime scene." Following the suspicion, the detectives found the remains of a person named Bradley Minder in the backyard.

The incident came to light on October 15 when the Riverside Police Department reported a missing person. The police responded to a home in the 8700 block of Sylvan Drive in Riverside, California, and learned that the person had not been "seen or heard from" for a few days.

As the officers investigated the missing report, they came across a statement that an occupant had made about killing his roommate. The occupant, Richard Martinez, was then detained, and the officers continued with their investigation by searching the property.

According to an official release by the Riverside Police Department, detectives from the Robbery—Homicide Unit and specialists from the Forensics Unit were also involved in the investigation. Additionally, Riverside Sheriff's cadaver canines helped solve the case.

The cadaver dogs soon alerted the officials about something fishy in the backyard. After digging the "freshly disturbed soil," they found the remains of Minder. The release read,

"The cadaver dogs alerted to freshly disturbed soil in the backyard. As detectives began digging the area, they found human remains. The Riverside Sheriff-Coroner’s Office responded to complete the recovery from the makeshift grave, identifying the victim as 31-year-old Bradley Minder of Riverside."

The investigation then led to the arrest of Richard Martinez, 48, as the detectives booked him for murder. Reportedly, Martinez and Minder were roommates, and the former killed the 31-year-old after an altercation.

The investigation is underway, and the Riverside Police Department has urged people to contact them if they have any details about the incident.

Netizens react to the case allegedly involving Richard Martinez

Following the police department's official release, netizens are left in shock. While many are sending their condolences to Minder's family and friends, others found the entire incident "horrific."

One also penned,

"Grateful for the RPD and their detectives for the work they do. Prayers for the victims family and friends."
"Well how long was he buried in the backyard? How long did it take for people notice he was gone?" asked another user.

Martinez is being held without bail.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni