Man Found Dead In RivCo Field Was Likely Victim Of Hit-And-Run: CHP

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 45-year-old Homeland man found dead in a field over the weekend was the victim of a hit-and-run, a preliminary California Highway Patrol investigation has found.

Gregory Goodman's body was discovered shortly after 11 a.m. Sept. 9 in an open field along Juniper Flats Road, about a half mile north of Oak Valley Drive, in Homeland, according to a coroner's report and information provided Wednesday by CHP Officer Javier Navarro.

The unincorporated area lies between Hemet and Perris.

The sheriff's department took the initial call about the grim discovery, but the case was quickly turned over to the CHP when evidence revealed Goodman was likely the victim of a hit-and-run, Navarro explained via phone.

That evidence was vehicle parts found at the scene, and it all pointed to a maroon Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck, according to Navarro.

Using a CHP helicopter and ground forces, officers looked for a vehicle matching the description.

They found it at a residence not far from the crash scene, according to Navarro, who said the truck's driver was questioned and the pickup was seized as evidence.

No arrests were made in the case as of Wednesday afternoon. Instead, the CHP investigation is ongoing and personnel from the California Department of Justice have been called to assist, Navarro said.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call CHP Officer J. Tronti at 951-637-8000.