18-Year-Old Man Arrested In Murrieta On Suspicion Of Murder

MURRIETA, CA — After a monthslong investigation, an 18-year-old man was arrested in Murrieta on suspicion of murder following the death of a teen from fentanyl, the sheriff's department announced Monday.

Sammy Brian Estrada of Riverside was taken into custody Oct. 26 near the intersection of Murrieta Hot Springs and Whitewood roads following the investigation that began over the summer.

At approximately 2:21 p.m. July 24, sheriff's deputies were called to the 6400 block of Etiwanda Avenue in unincorporated Jurupa Valley regarding an unresponsive juvenile.

Despite paramedics' efforts to save the youth, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.

After lengthy detective work, focus turned to Estrada as the person who provided the lethal drug to the victim, according to the sheriff's department. On Oct. 11, deputies tried to detain him near the 9500 block of Miller Street in Riverside. As they approached his vehicle, however, he sped away and could not be found.

Shortly afterward, a search warrant was served at Estrada's residence in the 9700 block of Indiana Avenue in Riverside. During the search, "evidence indicative of narcotic sales, which included suspected counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, was located in Estrada’s bedroom," according to the sheriff's department.

Law enforcement finally caught up with Estrada on Oct. 26 in Murrieta near the 40300 block of California Oaks Road. Deputies tried to detain him but he fled again before his capture near the intersection of Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Whitewood roads.

During a search of his vehicle, deputies found more counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, according to the sheriff's department.

Estrada was booked into Southwest Detention Center and is being held on $1 million. Court records were not immediately available for him.

According to jail records, Estrada was 18 years old at the time of the victim's death.