Trial Date Set For Felon Accused Of Killing Hemet Man Who Vanished

RIVERSIDE, CA — A March 10 trial date was confirmed Wednesday for a convicted felon accused of killing a 27-year-old Hemet man and dumping his remains near Perris.

Ricardo Pardo, 41, of Perris was arrested in 2022 following a nearly yearlong Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the slaying of Joshua Crosier.

Pardo is charged with first-degree murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

During a pretrial conference Wednesday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and both sides agreed to be prepared to move forward with proceedings in the second week of March.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Steve Brosche, Crosier vanished in late August 2021, culminating in a missing person investigation that turned into a homicide investigation when, in April 2022, detectives received information from an undisclosed source indicating that the victim had been killed.

The investigative team procured evidence pointing to Pardo as the alleged assailant, and he was arrested on July 28, 2022, Brosche said.

"On Aug. 2, after searching several locations, male remains were located believed to be Crosier's body," the sergeant said. "The remains were located in the (unincorporated) county area of Perris."

A possible motive was not disclosed, nor were any other details regarding the circumstances behind the deadly shooting.

Court records show Pardo has prior convictions for receiving stolen property, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—City News Service