Man arrested on suspicion of 2004 Idyllwild murder

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KESQ) - A 43-year-old man from San Mateo is behind bars today on suspicion of killing an 18-year-old man whose body was found near a hiking trail in Idyllwild over 21 years ago, authorities said.   

Deputies responded to a report made by a hiker who discovered human remains in the hills near Southfork Trail and Highway 74 in Idyllwild at 2:20 p.m. on March 21, 2004, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, who showed obvious signs of trauma. He was later identified as 18-year-old Reynaldo Burts of Hemet.

After several years, investigators identified the 43-year-old man as a person of interest, but still did not have sufficient evidence at the time to make an arrest, and the case went cold, the sheriff's department announced.   

In August of this year, investigators from the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit conducted a review of the case and identified additional investigative leads, and the case was reopened.

On Friday, investigators located the suspect in San Mateo with assistance from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team. He was arrested without incident on suspicion of murder and was booked into the Southwest Detention Center, where he was being held without bail.  

The suspect was scheduled to appear at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center on Wednesday.  

Anyone with additional information about the case was encouraged to contact the department's Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.