Felon Charged With Killing His 81-Year-Old Mother In Hemet

HEMET, CA — A felon accused of fatally bludgeoning his 81-year-old mother at her Hemet home was charged Tuesday with murder and other offenses.

Ricardo Donald Tucker was arrested Friday following a Hemet Police Department investigation into the slaying of Lee Tucker.

Along with murder, the defendant was charged with elder abuse and sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and inflicting great bodily injury on a dependent adult.

Tucker made his initial court appearance before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton, who appointed him a public defender and scheduled his arraignment for Aug. 23 at the Banning Justice Center.

The judge also ordered the defendant held in lieu of $1.3 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. Tucker's bail was previously set at $1 million.

According to Hemet police Lt. Michael Mouat, patrol officers were sent to the victim's residence in the 1900 block of Calle Amargosa, near Lyon Avenue, shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday to conduct a welfare check at the request of friends and neighbors.

"Officers arrived at the location and discovered the deceased elderly female, with visible injuries," the lieutenant said.

According to court papers, Tucker allegedly used a "blunt force instrument" to perpetrate the killing, though no other details were provided.

He was detained at the location for questioning, and by the following day, he was formally arrested and booked into jail.

A possible motive for the deadly attack was not provided.

According to court records, the defendant has prior convictions for attempted robbery, manufacturing a weapon while incarcerated and possession of controlled substances.