Suspect Justin Kail, 31, was arrested and booked for murder. Photo provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.On August 24, 2021, at about 5:58 p.m., Southwest Station deputies were dispatched to a call of an unresponsive male adult in the 30000 block of Benton Street in the City of Winchester where they located a deceased male. The victim was identified as 27-year-old Ernie Gutierrez of Winchester.
After an extensive investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit, it was determined that Gutierrez was a victim of homicide due to a fentanyl overdose, Sergeant Ryan Marcuse said in a news release.
Justin Kail, a 31-year-old resident of Winchester, is suspected of being the person who sold the fentanyl to Gutierrez, authorities said.
Kail was taken into custody and booked for murder. His bail was set at $1 million, according to jail records. Kail is scheduled to appear in court on February 16.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is ask to contact Master Investigator Cornett at 951-955-1700. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics that contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm.
