Man Killed And Buried Roommate In RivCo Backyard: Police

RIVERSIDE, CA — A Riverside man was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of killing his roommate and burying him in the backyard of their home, authorities said Friday.

Officers responded to the 8700 block of Sylvan Drive in the Arlanza area around 7:45 p.m. after receiving reports that a resident had not been seen or heard from for several days. During their visit, officers were told that one of the occupants had claimed he killed his roommate, according to the Riverside Police Department.

The Riverside Sheriff's cadaver canines were called in, along with a homicide and forensics unit.

Cadaver dogs alerted officers of freshly disturbed soil in the backyard, where detectives then started digging. Human remains were uncovered and identified as 31-year-old Bradley Minder of Riverside by the Riverside Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

Richard Thomas Martinez, a 48-year-old of Riverside, was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of murder. He was still in custody on Friday without bail.

An investigation revealed that Minder and Martinez are roommates. Investigators suspect that Martinez killed Minder during an altercation and buried him in their backyard.

No other details were immediately available.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Detective Ricky Barajas at 951-353-7213 or EBarajas@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Richard Glover at 951-353-7134 or RGlover@RiversideCA.gov. Those who want to remain anonymous can download the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app and use the “Send a Message” feature to send information.