On March 21, 2004, the Riverside Sheriff’s Department responded to a report from a hiker who had discovered human remains near Southfork Trail and Highway 74 in Idyllwild. Deputies from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station found the body of Reynaldo Burts, an 18-year-old from Hemet, who showed signs of trauma. The Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation after initial findings.
The case remained unsolved for years as investigators identified James Landi, now 43 and living in San Mateo, as a person of interest but lacked enough evidence for an arrest at that time. The case went cold until August 2025 when the Central Homicide Unit reopened it after finding new investigative leads during a review of unsolved homicides.
On December 5, 2025, with help from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team, authorities located Landi in San Mateo and arrested him without incident. He was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of murder.
According to officials: “This investigation remains ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.” Authorities encourage anyone with information about this case to contact Master Investigator Darryl Robertson or Deputy Andrew Lucifora at the Central Homicide Unit by calling 951–955–2777.
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