A 44-year-old man accused of killing a senior in her Perris home, where the woman’s body remained for several weeks before authorities were alerted, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and other offenses.
John Douglas Cruthirds of Perris was arrested Friday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the death of the woman, whose identity had not yet been publicly released.
Along with murder, Cruthirds is charged with a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury on a person over 70 years old.
The defendant, who is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail, was slated to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop, patrol deputies were sent to the defendant’s and victim’s shared residence in the 2100 block of Glimmer Way, near Redlands Avenue, shortly before 10 a.m. Friday to conduct a welfare check on the woman.
Bishop did not specify who requested the welfare check.
“Upon deputies’ arrival, they located evidence of a homicide,” the sergeant said. “The scene was secured, and investigators from the Central Homicide Unit were requested.”
He said the detectives further uncovered “human remains at the residence.” Court documents indicated that the death occurred on April 5, roughly two weeks before the sheriff’s department was contacted.
Cruthirds was detained at the house for questioning but not formally booked into custody until Friday night.
The specific circumstances, as well as a possible motive for the alleged attack, were not disclosed.
Cruthirds has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.