Teen Ordered To Stand Trial For Dismemberment Murder In Hemet

A Riverside County judge ordered a Hemet teenager to face trial on Monday for the 2009 murder and dismemberment of another teen

Jose Manuel Campos was charged with the Nov. 15, 2009, murder of 17-year-old Adrian Rios, whose remains were found in Campos’ backyard and in the waters of Canyon Lake, according to the district attorney’s office.

District Attorney Rod Pacheco said Campos was a juvenile when the murder was committed but is being tried as an adult.

A hearing that began on Friday included evidence showing that Campos and the victim were at the scene of the murder on the day it happened.

Prosecutors also argued Rios and Campos began to argue and Campos brandished a rifle and then shot Rios.

In an attempt to cover up his crime, Campos dismembered then tried to burn the victim’s body and bury it in the backyard.

Campos ultimately fled the country and was captured in Mexico in March, then extradited to the United States to face the murder charge.

Campos is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 1.