RSO homicide detectives revisiting Pinyon Pines triple murder case

Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff says homicide investigators from the department are providing additional follow up work on the Pinyon Pines triple murder case.

Murder charges against defendants Robert Pape and Cristin Smith were dropped last week .

Sniff tells CBS Local 2 that within “the last day or two,” the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office contacted detectives from the Sheriff’s Department for assistance.

“I can’t say that it was expected or unexpected,” said Sniff. “We’re not surprised, but I don’t think people should read too closely into it.”

“Typically in complicated cases…investigators from all agencies continue to work leads non stop,” Sniff added.

A statement released by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office last week simply said that legal issues arose surrounding the prosecution of Pape and Smith. The statement indicated that charges would be refiled in the future.

Pape and Smith were accused of the 2006 killing of 18-year old Becky Friedli of Pinyon Pines, her mother Vicky, and Vicky’s boyfriend John Hayward.