Cold Case Murder Arrest 

December 7, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on March 21, 2004, at 2:18 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting the discovery of human remains in the hills near Southfork Trail and Highway 74, Idyllwild. Deputies from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station responded and located the victim, who showed signs of obvious trauma. Based on the initial findings, the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit assumed the investigation. The victim was later identified as 18-year-old Reynaldo Burts of Hemet.

The investigation continued for several years and ultimately identified James Landi, now a 43-year-old resident of San Mateo, as a person of interest. Unfortunately, investigators did not have sufficient evidence at the time to make an arrest, and the case went cold.

As part of the Riverside Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing efforts to review cold case homicides, investigators from the Central Homicide Unit conducted a review of this case in August 2025. This review identified additional investigative leads, and the case was reopened.

On December 5, 2025, with assistance from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team, investigators located Landi in San Mateo and arrested him without incident. He was transported and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on a charge of murder.

This investigation remains ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Master Investigator Darryl Robertson or Deputy Andrew Lucifora of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Jarred Bishop

File # D040810034

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office