Perris Man Must Stand Trial for Three Local Murders

A Perris man charged with the murders of three local residents must stand trial for those crimes, a Riverside County Superior Court judge ruled Friday.

In a preliminary hearing held in Murrieta, judge John Monterosso found sufficient evidence for David Rey Contreras, 27, to stand trial on all counts, according to a County District Attorney's office news release. Contreras was ordered to return for an information arraignment on July 24.

Contreras is charged with the Feb. 4, 2013 murders of Maria Gonzalez, 51, and her daughter Consuelo Gonzalez, 25, both of Nuevo. The women left their home about 5 p.m. to go for a walk. A short time later, both women were found lying in the street on Central Avenue, the victim of multiple stab wounds. Consuelo Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene and Maria Gonzalez died en route to a local hospital.

Contreras is also charged with the Dec. 29, 2012 murder of Jose Apreza, 53, who was reported missing from his Perris home and was later found dead in an open field near Evans Road and Orange Avenue.