Two Moreno Valley men have been arrested in connection with a homicide dating back to last year, as indicated by a recent release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Adam Carl, 29, and Ruben Puentes, 28, were taken into custody on May 30, with the Central Homicide Unit stating that the Emergency Services Team and Major Crimes Unit assisted in the arrests, which led to Carl and Puentes being booked for murder under case file # MV243060288. The full details of the incident can be found on the Riverside County Sheriff's Office website.
According to the sheriff's office, on the night of November 1, 2024, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 24000 block of Dracaea Avenue; upon their arrival, 45-year-old Ralph Ortega was discovered with gunshot wounds and despite being quickly transported to a local hospital, succumbed to his injuries leaving a community grappling with loss and questions as authorities worked to piece together this tragic puzzle. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit.
Investigator Hood of the Central Homicide Unit, along with Moreno Valley Station Investigator McCracken, are leading the ongoing investigation and urge anyone with additional information to come forward. Authorities can be reached at (951) 955-2777 for Investigator Hood or (951) 486-6700 for Investigator McCracken for those looking to provide potentially crucial insights that may further the case, offering the chance of closure for involved parties and the wider community.
While the details surrounding the investigation remain sparse, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office has released images of both Adam Carl and Ruben Puentes, no doubt an attempt to ensure complete transparency and perhaps to glean additional information about the suspects from public sources that can aid the ongoing efforts.
