Murder Investigation 

August 6, 2024 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on August 5, 2024, at 7:00 a.m., deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to a business located in the 29000 block of Central Avenue, Lake Elsinore, in reference to an assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies arrived on scene and located a female employee, later identified as Jessica Morales, a 65-year-old from Menifee, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Deputies rendered medical aid to the female until medical personnel arrived. The victim was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

The suspect later turned himself in at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station and was identified as Lonnie Hinton, a 29-year-old male from Wildomar. Investigators arrested Hinton for murder, and he was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center. Investigators learned that Hinton was released from state prison earlier this year for a robbery and was on active parole at the time of this incident.

This appears to be a random event, and there was no interaction between the suspect and the victim prior to the assault. There are no outstanding suspects in this case. Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator K. Farag or Investigator D. Robertson of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Jarred Bishop

File # L242180024

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office