Homicide Investigation 

July 12, 2023 - Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that during the course of this investigation, a suspect was identified as Ruben Esquivel, 34 years of Coachella.  Esquivel is currently in custody on an unrelated homicide. Tuesday, new charges of Murder, Arson, and Use of a Gun in the Commission of a Felony were filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Update: On July 28, 2020, the identity of the homicide victim was confirmed through the Coroner’s Office, using dental records. The victim is Luis Pinedo, 23 years of Mecca. This is still an active investigation and no further details will be released at this time.

Update: On July 20, 2020, the postmortem examination was conducted at the Coroner’s Office in Indio. There was evidence of homicidal violence found and this case will now be investigated as a homicide. The victim was a male, whose identity has not yet been confirmed.

Details: On July 18, 2020, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff Station responded to a vehicle fire at Pierce St. south of Airport Blvd., Thermal. CAL Fire personnel extinguished the fire and found the deceased subject inside. Deputies established a crime scene, and investigators from the Central Homicide Unit responded.

The deceased subject has not been identified at this time. This is an active investigation and no additional details are available at this time.  The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Central Homicide Investigator Mendoza at (951) 955-2777.

Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Crime Tips online form.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ben Ramirez

File # C202000015

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office