Robert Lars Pape Photo courtesy Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Robert Lars Pape
Photo courtesy Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
More than two years after their original arrest, Robert Pape, 28, and Cristin Smith, 27, were re-arrested for the 2006 triple murders of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and Becky Friedli in Pinyon Pines.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced the arrests last Friday.

Three counts of murder, with a special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders, were filed on Wednesday, June 8, against both men, according to the DA’s press release.

“Three people lost their lives to violence,” Hestrin said in the release. “They are not simply victims, but mother, father, sister, family and loved ones. The tremendous loss of three innocent people is what drove me, this office, the sheriff and all the investigators to continue to search for the truth.”

On the night of Sept. 17, 2006, Becky, 18, her mother Vicki, 53, and Vicki’s boyfriend Hayward, 55, were found dead at their Pinyon home. Becky’s body was found burning in a wheelbarrow outside the house. The other bodies were found inside the burning home.

Pape was Becky’s former boyfriend. The two men were arrested in March 2014 and charged with the three murders. Then on Oct. 6, 2014, nearly seven months later, the DA’s office dismissed all the charges against Pape and Smith.

Cristin Conrad Smith Photo courtesy Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Cristin Conrad Smith
Photo courtesy Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

In a press release from October 2014, the DA’s Office stated, “Upon a closer review of the grand jury proceedings, the District Attorney’s Office has determined that legal issues arose during the proceedings against defendant Pape that make it appropriate to dismiss the case at this time.

“Although defendant Smith was held to answer after a preliminary hearing, the District Attorney’s Office has concluded that it would not be appropriate to continue the criminal proceedings solely against defendant Smith, so the charges against both men have been dismissed,” according to the release.

However, it added that the investigation would continue. And after taking office in January 2015, Hestrin said the office would continue to review the case. On Friday, he said, “The lengthy investigation led to the finding of new evidence, some of which was not known at the time of the first investigation, as well as evidence that has now been processed using technological advances unavailable previously.”

Pape was arrested Wednesday, June 8, in Cathedral City. Smith was arrested Friday, June 10, in Sacramento.

Similar Posts

  • Farewell for Washington

    From left, Phyllis Mueller, David Cutter, Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington, Idyllwild Community Center President Stephanie Yost and Luis Solis at a farewell party for Washington at Town Hall last Thursday. After redistricting, the Idyllwild area is now in V. Manuel Perez’s 4th district. Photo by Peter Szabadi

  • Goldberg honored

    Idyllwild’s Dr. Richard Goldberg (front center) was recognized at the third-annual Public Health Community Champion Awards last week. Goldberg represented the 3rd Supervisorial District. The other awardees were (front row, from left) Robert Roy, Gabriel Maldonado, Aurora Wilson and Melanie Nieman. Also shown in the back row (from left) are Susan Harrington, director of the Department of Public Health; 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley; 1st District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries; Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county Public Health officer; 4th District Supervisor John Benoit; and 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington.

  • |

    Motorcyclist injured in solo crash

    A motorcyclist was injured in a crash just south of Idyllwild Thursday, Jan. 22, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Darren Meyer. Marcus Wagner, 21, of Moreno Valley, was riding a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja south on Highway 243 just 350 north of the southern intersection of Saunders Meadow Road when he entered a left-hand…

  • |

    News of Record: May 20, 2021

    Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District recently responded to the following calls. • May 10 — Public service assist, 3:20 a.m. N. Circle Dr.• May 10 — Medical aid, 12:31 p.m. Saunders Meadow Rd.• May 10 — Medical aid, 1:22 p.m. N. Circle Dr.• May 10 — Medical aid, 10:25 p.m. Marian View Dr.• May…

  • Spiritual Workout

    Dear Spiritual Workout,There is a growing concern about narcissistic behavior and how itdestroys self-esteem.  I am in a situation now where I think fromdescriptions online that I am being manipulated by such a person in aromantic relationship.  Do I run to safety?  Or is this term beingoverused?A Loyal Reader Dear Loyal,You have enough self-esteem, at…

  • Increase in dead and dying trees causing state emergency

    Last Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency due to the number of dead and dying trees resulting from the four-year drought. He also wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack seeking help to mitigate this forest crisis. “California is facing the worst epidemic of tree mortality in its modern history,” said Brown…