Runnels convicted of first degree murder

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, a Riverside County Superior Court criminal jury convicted Jason Howard Runnels and co-defendant Lucia Janet Martinez of premeditated murder in the first degree of Rick Macias. Sentencing is set for April 5 for both defendants.

Macias was killed on Dec. 31, 2008 during or after a New Years Eve party at Runnels' Poppet Flat residence. His body was subsequently dumped in Lake Fulmor.

Authorities seek Lake Fulmor skull ID

Riverside County Sheriff's Department Homicide unit is seeking information about the identity of a man whose skull was found just off Highway 243 about two miles east of Lake Fulmor on May 18, 2010.

Homicide detectives released a composite sketch of the man based on the bone structure of the skull. He is believed to be Caucasian between 20 and 40 years old at the time of death. Detectives, who are treating the case as a homicide, estimate the skull had been at the Lake Fulmor area site for some time. No additional skeletal remains were found, just the skull. Because of the skull's condition, it can't be tested for DNA.

At the time of discovery in May, detectives searched outstanding missing persons reports but found no match or leads.

Homicide is hoping that by publishing the composite sketch and calling attentiion to the case and location where the skull was found, people might come forward with information that could lead to identifying the individual.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call Investigator Rick Simms at (760) 393-3524 or the Sheriff's homicide tipline website at www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline.

Truck drives into lake Fulmor – hazmat cleanup

By Marshall Smith, Staff Reporter

According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Scott Beauchene, early Tuesday morning March 23, at about 5:30 a.m., a white pick up truck heading south on Highway 243 crossed lanes, hit the edge of the Lake Fulmor bridge and careened into Lake Fulmor. According to the CHP incident report, the truck is registered to an Idyllwild owner who said she was unaware her truck had been taken and declined to file a theft report.

Beauchene said at this point that the CHP incident report is complete.

Shortly after the incident, the U.S. Forest Service, within whose jurisdiction the lake falls, notified Riverside County’s Office of Emergency Services to dispatch a Hazmat group to the scene. Clean up began Tuesday and was continuing through Wednesday. Cleanup, because of possible gas and automotive fluid leakage into the lake, has been extensive with crews from the Forest Service, Riverside County Hazmat, the Forest Service Hazmat specialist, Forest Service Fire Prevention, and Forest Service Recreation Officer John Ladley — in all about 10 people in addition to CHP initial responders.

Miller expects cleanup to finish on Thursday, March 25 and for the lake to reopen on Friday the 26^th. Clean up costs will exceed $23,000.

The footbridge on the north side of the lake near the highway was damaged from the vehicle’s trajectory and will remain closed for the immediate future. There is no current repair schedule for the footbridge, but the car owner and the driver, should that person be found and identified will be liable for cleanup and bridge repair costs, according to Miller.



top photo courtesy of John Miller, Information officer San Bernardino Naitonal Forest.


Bottom photo by Idyllwild Town Crier