Body Dumped in Badlands Identified and Girlfriend Charged with Murder

Body Dumped in Badlands Identified and Girlfriend Charged with Murder

MORENO VALLEY-  A local woman was charged for the murder of a man found deceased along a rural section of Hwy 60.

On Thursday, December 4, in the early afternoon a motorist noticed what appeared to be a body alongside Hwy 60 in a rugged area 1.5 miles east of Moreno Valley known locally as The Badlands. Deputies from the Cabazon Station responded to the motorist’s call and were able locate a deceased male adult who appeared to have suffered deadly traumatic injuries.

Believing the case to be a homicide, detectives from the Central Homicide Unit initiated an investigation. The victim was identified as 47-year-old Moreno Valley resident, Juan Servin. The following day detectives identified what they believed to be the scene of the murder at a residence in the 16400 block of Hazelwood Court in the city of Moreno Valley.

Servin’s girlfriend Darla Bennett, age 43 of Moreno Valley, was arrested for homicide and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. According to court records Bennett also has a prior conviction for embezzlement from 2006 under the name Darla Anne Sell. Bennett made her first appearance in court on Wednesday December 10 and could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted in the homicide. Investigators allege that Bennett lived with Servin and murdered him in their home. A possible motive was not disclosed, nor were any details regarding how the victim was killed. She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Investigator Freeman from the Central Homicide Unit at 760-393-3530.

Read More:

KESQ: Moreno Valley woman accused of murdering her boyfriend

Press Enterprise: Detectives arrest woman in boyfriend’s slaying

Body Dumped in Badlands Identified and Girlfriend Charged with Murder was last modified: December 12th, 2014 by admin
Categories: Riverside

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Rebecca O'Connor

Rebecca K. O’Connor is a freelance writer, copywriter and author of several books in addition to her work with United Reporting. She blogs for National Geographic as well as her own sites and is always looking for the next great story.