Trial Ordered For Riverside Man Accused Of Killing Roommate With Shovel, Burying Body In Yard

RIVERSIDE, CA — A Riverside man accused of fatally beating his 31-year-old housemate with a shovel must stand trial for first-degree murder and other charges, a judge ruled Monday.

Richard Thomas Martinez, 49, allegedly killed Bradley Minder last year.

Following a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Monday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gail O'Rane found there was sufficient evidence to bound Martinez over for trial on the murder count and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Nov. 13 and ordered that the defendant remain held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail.

According to Riverside police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback, on the night of Oct. 17, 2024, officers received reports from an unidentified concerned party that Minder had not been seen in days, and his housemate, Martinez, "had made statements claiming he killed" the victim.

Officers went to the men's shared residence in the 8700 block of Sylvan Drive, near Lake Street, where a "search of the property revealed a possible crime scene in the backyard," Railsback said.

He said that homicide detectives were summoned, as well as county sheriff's cadaver dogs.

"The dogs alerted to freshly disturbed soil in the backyard," the police spokesman said. "As detectives began digging the area, they found human remains."

The body found in the makeshift grave was confirmed to be that of Minder.

The initial investigation revealed there had been an unspecified altercation between the victim and Martinez, during which the latter armed himself with a shovel and beat the victim to death, Railsback and court papers alleged.

The defendant, who has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County, was taken into custody without incident.

"Bradley was the gentlest soul to ever walk this earth," according to a family statement released to the public soon afterward. "He was a kind friend and deeply loyal son, brother and uncle. His family meant more to him than anything in the world. He forgave easily and treated everyone with pure, unadulterated love."

Minder was originally from Kansas. It was unclear how long he had resided in Riverside County up to the time of his death.

Background information on Martinez was unavailable.