Three men suspected of killing a 78-year-old man in Winchester were in custody Friday.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Perris Station responded to the 28000 block of Whitaker Lane at 5:20 p.m. on March 6 regarding a welfare check. Upon their arrival, deputies found signs of forced entry, entered the residence and found the body of 78-year-old Robert Bettencourt with signs of trauma, said Sgt. Ed Baeza.
During the course of the investigation of Bettencourt’s killing, detectives identified the suspects, Clifford Franken, 54, of Hemet, and Matthew Fromer, 50 and Kevin R. Hirsch, 46, both of Menifee.
A fourth suspect identified as Joseph Michael Salvati, a 34-year-old resident of Moreno Valley, remains at large, Baeza said. An arrest warrant has been issued for Salvati who is considered “armed and dangerous,” Baeza said.
Baeza advised anyone who encounters Salvati not to approach and call 9-1-1 for assistance.
Anyone with information regarding this killing was asked to call Investigator B. Cline of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator R. Barbie of the Perris Station at 951-210-1000.