April 29, 2023 - Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that on 08/29/16, at 5:02 a.m., deputies assigned to the Southwest Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to an unresponsive female on the 12000 block of Pechanga Road, within the Pechanga Indian Reservation in Temecula. Upon arriving, deputies located an adult female who was pronounced deceased by Riverside County Fire Department personnel who had arrived before the deputies. A crime scene was secured and investigators from the Southwest Sheriff’s Station and the Central Homicide Unit responded to assume the investigation. The female victim was identified as Julia Moreno, 28-year-old resident of Hemet area.

The investigation remained open and all leads were investigated. Investigators have identified the suspect in this homicide as Melvin Marrufo Jr. (pictured), a 42-year-old man, resident of San Jacinto who is currently in prison for an unrelated homicide. The Riverside District Attorney’s Office has filed murder charges against Marrufo. There are no outstanding suspects.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Master Investigator A. Loureiro of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff's Homicide Tipline online form.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ed Baeza

File # SW162420004

Source: Riverside County Sheriff's Office