Homicide Investigation
September 19, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that during the investigation, homicide investigators identified 
the suspect as 33-year-old Steven Vargas, a resident of Lake Elsinore.
On September 17, 2025, homicide investigators, with the assistance of investigators from the Major Crimes Unit, arrested Vargas in the Riverside area. Homicide investigators had Vargas booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for murder.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Newby at (951) 955-2777 or Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Investigator Contreras at (951) 245-3300.
Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Alberto Loureiro
File # F252570012
Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Office