Canyon Lake Caretaker Suspected Of Torturing His Former Charge

CANYON LAKE, CA —The former caretaker of a Canyon Lake paraplegic man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of torturing and attempting to kill a paraplegic man in his care, the Lake Elsinore Station Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported.

Richard Emmons, 55, was held at the Southwest Detention Center on $1 million bail, according to jail records. He is due in court at Murrieta's Southwest Justice Center on Friday morning, where he will answer felony charges of attempted murder, torture, and elder abuse.

On Tuesday, Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station deputies were called to the 30100 block of Rim Rock Place on a report of dependent care abuse, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department statement.

Arriving deputies spoke to the doctor of the paraplegic man, whom she described as needing both "24-hour care and requiring a ventilator to breathe," according to the statement.

Emmons was employed as a caretaker to the victim and was fired Monday, the day before he allegedly took apart the respiratory device, according to Sgt. Robert Thomas.

The department says an investigation is ongoing in this case. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Investigator Topete of the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station at 951-245-3300.