Authorities Expected to Speak About Perris Triple Homicide After 3 Men Found Dead in Cemetery

Authorities are expected to speak Tuesday about a triple homicide investigation into the deaths of three men whose bodies were found in a Perris cemetery a day earlier.

The deceased were discovered near a grave site at Perris Valley Cemetery, located in the 900 block of North Perris Boulevard, after deputies were called to the area around 10:20 a.m., according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Witnesses told KTLA they could see the bodies, one of them wrapped in what appeared to be a sleeping bag, before deputies arrived.

Riverside County sheriff’s officials have said the incident appears to be isolated but they are also investigating a possible connection to two fatal shootings in the city earlier this month.

The cemetery was closed Monday as two of the three bodies remained there for several hours while detectives continued to investigate.

Sheriff’s officials are expected to provide an update on the case during a news conference scheduled for 2 p.m.

#Perris #MediaAlert @SheriffBianco will update community members on Triple Homicide Press Conference. Today at 2pm – Perris Sheriff’s Station 137 N. Perris Blvd. Perris.

— Riverside County Sheriff's Dept (@RSO) February 18, 2020

1 Killed, 1 Wounded in Shooting Outside Perris; Gunman Sought

Authorities were searching for the gunman after a 30-year-old man was shot dead and another man was wounded in a shooting west of Perris, officials said Monday.

Faustino Mayares, 30, of Perris, was found dead when deputies responded around 4 p.m. Sunday to gunfire in the area of Mountain Avenue and Marie Street in the unincorporated community of Good Hope, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

A second man was found suffering from a gunshot wound and taken to a nearby hospital. He’s expected to survive, authorities said.

Investigators say the shooting occurred on a large property in the area. The gunman had fled the scene by the time deputies arrived.

Homicide detectives have assumed control of the investigators and are working to compile suspect information.

The double shooting comes after 29-year-old Renato Sanchez was fatally wounded at Paragon Park in Perris on Feb. 12, and the Feb. 2 shooting death of 21-year-old Gelder Funes-Lopez. Officials said Monday that they were looking into the possibility those two homicides could be related to the deaths of three other men whose bodies were found near grave sites in a Perris cemetery around 10:20 a.m.

Anyone with information can contact Investigator Stoyer at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Klemp at 951-245-3300.

2 Days of Riverside County Marijuana Raids End in 3 Arrests, Thousands of Plants Destroyed

An unlicensed marijuana grow in Mead Valley that was raided on Feb. 14, 2020, is seen in a photo released by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Three people, including a husband-and-wife team, were arrested as deputies served a series of warrants at unlicensed marijuana growing operations in western Riverside County this week.

The first two raids occurred Thursday at two separate grow houses in Lake Elsinore, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Around 7:20 a.m., officials searched a home on the 4000 Block of Ash Street. Neighbors had reported suspicious activity at the residence in late January, the department said in a news release.

Once inside, authorities say they discovered 35-year-old Andrew Vu and his wife Thu Vu, 31, were living in part of the home while the remainder had been renovated to support cultivation. They also allegedly found an altered electrical system that allowed the pair to pilfer an estimated $19,000 worth of energy.

Andrew Vu, left, and Thu Vu are seen in undated booking photos released Feb. 13, 2020, by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The deputies seized weed plants and arrested the couple on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation, utilities theft, maintaining a drug house and marijuana possession with the intent to distribute.

A second raid was carried out simultaneously at a house on the 40900 Block of Diana Lane that was also the subject of complaints, the Sheriff’s Department said.

About 1,250 pot plants were confiscated, and the home’s electrical wiring had similarly been tampered with, this time estimated to have cost Southern California Edison roughly $40,730. However, no arrests were made at this location, deputies said.

Both homes were deemed uninhabitable by building and safety officials.

Alonzo Ivory is seen in an undated booking photo released Feb. 14, 2020, by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

On Friday, deputies raided an outdoor grow on the 22200 block of Markham Street in the unincorporated community of Mead Valley. Authorities say they destroyed nearly 1,100 marijuana plants that were being grown in greenhouses.

A gun was found in a home on the property, and the man who lives there — 64-year-old Alonzo Ivory — was arrested on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, officials said.

Inmate records show Andrew Vu was released on $20,000 bail hours after his arrest Thursday, while Thu Vu was released Friday on $50,000 bail. She had a court appearance scheduled for March 27, while he is set to appear April 13.

Ivory remained in custody Friday night and was expected to appear in court Feb. 19, according to the booking records.

2 Days of Riverside County Marijuana Raids End in 3 Arrests, Thousands of Plants Destroyed

An unlicensed marijuana grow in Mead Valley that was raided on Feb. 14, 2020, is seen in a photo released by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Three people, including a husband-and-wife team, were arrested as deputies served a series of warrants at unlicensed marijuana growing operations in western Riverside County this week.

The first two raids occurred Thursday at two separate grow houses in Lake Elsinore, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Around 7:20 a.m., officials searched a home on the 4000 Block of Ash Street. Neighbors had reported suspicious activity at the residence in late January, the department said in a news release.

Once inside, authorities say they discovered 35-year-old Andrew Vu and his wife Thu Vu, 31, were living in part of the home while the remainder had been renovated to support cultivation. They also allegedly found an altered electrical system that allowed the pair to pilfer an estimated $19,000 worth of energy.

Andrew Vu, left, and Thu Vu are seen in undated booking photos released Feb. 13, 2020, by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The deputies seized weed plants and arrested the couple on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation, utilities theft, maintaining a drug house and marijuana possession with the intent to distribute.

A second raid was carried out simultaneously at a house on the 40900 Block of Diana Lane that was also the subject of complaints, the Sheriff’s Department said.

About 1,250 pot plants were confiscated, and the home’s electrical wiring had similarly been tampered with, this time estimated to have cost Southern California Edison roughly $40,730. However, no arrests were made at this location, deputies said.

Both homes were deemed uninhabitable by building and safety officials.

Alonzo Ivory is seen in an undated booking photo released Feb. 14, 2020, by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

On Friday, deputies raided an outdoor grow on the 22200 block of Markham Street in the unincorporated community of Mead Valley. Authorities say they destroyed nearly 1,100 marijuana plants that were being grown in greenhouses.

A gun was found in a home on the property, and the man who lives there — 64-year-old Alonzo Ivory — was arrested on suspicion of illegal marijuana cultivation and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, officials said.

Inmate records show Andrew Vu was released on $20,000 bail hours after his arrest Thursday, while Thu Vu was released Friday on $50,000 bail. She had a court appearance scheduled for March 27, while he is set to appear April 13.

Ivory remained in custody Friday night and was expected to appear in court Feb. 19, according to the booking records.