A man accused of killing a 70-year-old relative in her Perris home — where the victim’s body remained for several weeks before authorities were alerted — was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and other offenses.
John Douglas Cruthirds, 44, of Perris was arrested Friday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the death of Debra Cruthirds.
Along with murder, John Cruthirds is charged with a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting great bodily injury on a senior citizen.
The defendant made his initial court appearance Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Melissa Hale, who appointed him a public defender and set his arraignment for May 6 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
The judge left his bail requirement unchanged at $1 million. Cruthirds is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jarred Bishop and court documents, patrol deputies were sent to Debra Cruthirds’ home at 2175 Glimmer Way, near Redlands Avenue, shortly before 10 a.m. Friday to conduct a welfare check on her.
Bishop did not specify who requested the welfare check.
“Upon deputies’ arrival, they located evidence of a homicide,” Bishop said. “The scene was secured, and investigators from the Central Homicide Unit were requested.”
Bishop said the detectives further uncovered “human remains at the residence.” Court documents indicated the woman was killed on April 5, roughly two weeks before the sheriff’s department was contacted.
Sheriff’s officials would not confirm Tuesday whether she was the defendant’s mother or aunt.
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.