Homicide Investigation Launched After Man Found Dead in Unincorporated Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Late last week, a passerby stumbled upon a grim scene in the sparsely‑populated community of Good Hope, just outside Perris. The body, later identified as 42‑year‑old Lonn Lucas of Riverside, was discovered at roughly 5:38 p.m. on Monday near the intersection of Read Street and Olive Avenue.

Good Hope isn’t exactly a bustling downtown; it’s a spread‑out neighborhood of large‑lot homes linked by a handful of dirt roads, which makes the find all the more unsettling. The sheriff’s department hasn’t disclosed who called in the find, nor the exact spot where Lucas was lying, only that the area is relatively remote.

What’s raising eyebrows, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, are the “unusual circumstances” surrounding the death. Because of that, homicide detectives have taken the lead, treating the case as a possible murder. So far, no arrests have been made and the investigation is still very much active.

If you happen to know anything—no matter how small—that could help, the department is asking you to reach out. You can contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Chua at (951) 955‑2777, or Perris Station Investigator Hadeen at (951) 210‑1000.

Local officials say they’ll keep the public informed as more details emerge. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to stay alert and report any suspicious activity they might have noticed around the time of the discovery.