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3 People Found Murdered Next To Perris Gravesite

PERRIS (CBSLA) – The bodies of three men were discovered on the grounds of a Perris cemetery Monday morning, and authorities said they were looking into the incident as a triple-homicide.

3 Bodies Found In Perris
Riverside County Sheriff's deputies on scene of where three bodies were discovered in Perris, Calif. Feb. 17, 2020. (CBS2)

The victims were found sometime before 10:30 a.m. at the Perris Valley Cemetery in the 900 block of North Perris Boulevard, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department reports. Aerial footage showed the victims' bodies laying in the grass of the cemetery grounds.

The identities of the victims and their causes of death were not immediately confirmed. There were no details regarding who discovered the bodies. The sheriff's department would not say whether the men were killed at the cemetery or taken there after they were killed.

Perris Mayor Michael Vargas said in a statement Monday afternoon he was "heartbroken by the horrific crimes."

Vargas said he's been in contact with law enforcement and is monitoring the situation as it continues to develop. He also advised against spreading misinformation regarding the incident.

"We are confident our sheriff's office will handle this situation in a swift and professional manner and see the individuals who committed these crimes held responsible for their actions," Vargas said in the statement.

However, neighboring residents were frustrated with the lack of information.

"Right here in our own cemetery, where my mom and my brother and grandma are buried," Annette Pattle, a neighbor, said. "You know, it's crazy."

The Perris Valley Cemetery remains closed to the public as the investigation continues. Locals were asked to stay out of the area.

"They should let everybody know if we should be locking our doors," Pattle added.

This case is the latest of four nearby homicide investigations in or near Perris this month alone.

"Seems like every other week somebody's dying, somebody's getting killed," Pattle said.

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