Pretrial motions may begin Thursday for felon accused of killing Cabazon man

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) - Trial proceedings may start before the end of the week for a convicted felon accused of killing a 30-year-old Cabazon man, whose disappearance remained a mystery until his body was located more than two years later.

Shannon McCloud Collins, 49, of Cabazon was arrested in 2024 following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the 2021 death of Zachary Hemminger.  

Collins is charged with murder and a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation.

During a trial-setting conference Tuesday, the prosecution and defense indicated they were working to clear their calendars for the start of proceedings, but it remained unclear whether the defense would be ready. Superior Court Judge Jorge Hernandez tentatively scheduled pretrial motions for Thursday at the Banning Justice Center. But there was a possibility the matter would have to be postponed to November.   

The defendant is being held on $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Jarred Bishop, Collins killed Hemminger on April 7, 2021, for reasons still unclear.   

Bishop said detectives were alerted that Hemminger had gone missing, but there was no confirmation of foul play until the investigation had progressed.

When detectives received sufficient information pointing to a homicide, they began developing leads, ultimately identifying the approximate location where the victim's body had been dumped, the sergeant said. He said that in November 2023, remains were uncovered in the 40000 block of Blanche Avenue in Cabazon that forensic analysis confirmed were those of Hemminger.   

The investigation continued, culminating in an arrest warrant being served on Collins during the morning of June 21, 2024, when he was taken into custody without incident at a residence on Lois Avenue.   

How the defendant and victim were acquainted, and the circumstances that led to the alleged attack, were not disclosed. Sheriff's officials also did not specify what clues led them to Collins.

Court records show he has prior convictions for animal cruelty, auto theft and receiving stolen property.