Homicide Investigation
November 11, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the victim in this homicide was identified as Garrett 
Pickering, a 34-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore. During the course of the investigation, Homicide investigators identified the suspect as Ian Wentz, a 47-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore.
On November 9, 2025, Wentz turned himself in to homicide investigators at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station. Wentz was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for murder. This investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Hood at (951) 955-2777 or Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Investigator Contreras at (951) 245-3300.
Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Alberto Loureiro
File # L253120070
Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office