An Aguanga man has been taken into custody and charged with 6 alleged felonies in a homicide/arson investigation.
Garett Preston Young, 48, is being held without bail.
Hemet Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a report of multiple fires in the 45000 block of State Highway 79 in Aguanga, Monday, Feb. 3, at 4:42 p.m.. Multiple reporting parties advised that a travel trailer and a vacant ravine were engulfed in flames.
“We had one rig burn from fire,” said a witness. “At the same time two separate fires were started 200 yards west of the Jojoba Hills SKP Resort.”
As deputies arrived, they attempted to evacuate all persons in close proximity to the fire at the trailer and secured the scene as personnel from CAL-FIRE battled the blaze. After the fire was extinguished and clean-up procedures had begun, the remains of a person were located inside the trailer, according to authorities,
The decedent’s name is being withheld pending confirmation of identity and notification of next-of-kin. The Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit was notified and assumed the investigation.
Investigators continued their follow-up investigation Tuesday, Feb. 4. Patrol deputies from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station received a report of a suspicious person near the intersections of California State Route 79 and Highway 371, in the community of Aguanga.
“Today, at 7:03 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the area of State Highway 371 and State Highway 79 regarding a sighting of a person of interest in the arson investigation. When deputies arrived, they contacted the subject who was cooperative and transported him to the station to continue their investigation,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Media Information Bureau Public Information Officer Sergeant Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez.
Garett Preston Young, a 48-year-old resident of Aguanga was taken into custody. Young had been identified as the subject possibly involved in the fatal fires that had occurred in the afternoon of Feb. 3. Information was developed that led to the arrest of Young.
He was later booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for the alleged homicide and additional arson-related charges.
Young has been charged with
– Felony malicious set fire property
– Felony murder with malice
– Felony zip gun
– Felony arson: inhabited structure/property
– Felony arson: structure/forest land
– Felony arson: structure/forest land
He is being held without bail.
This investigation is ongoing; however, no additional suspects are being sought.
Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Investigator T. Gilbert with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-1777 or Investigator R. Martinez with the Hemet Station at 951-791-3400.
“I have no words for what happened, just sorrow,” said one resident.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
