Two Menifee men, two others to stand trial for murder

Menifee 24/7 Staff

Two Menifee men are among four individuals who must stand trial for the murder of a Winchester resident in March, a judge ruled this week.

Kevin Richard Hirsch, 46, and Matthew Patrick Fromer, 51, will face charges of murder, robbery, and burglary, as well as other weapons and drug-related charges, according to jail records. Along with Clifford John Franken, 53, and Joseph Michael Salvati, 34, of Hemet, they are accused of killing Robert Bettencourt on March 3.

A Riverside County Superior Court judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold the suspects for trial. They are due in court Oct. 6 for arraignment at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Sheriff’s deputies responded on March 6 to the 28000 block of Whitaker Lane in Winchester to check on the welfare of a male subject, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release. They found signs of forced entry and inside was the deceased body of Bettencourt, 78, with signs of trauma. An investigation led to the identification of the four as suspects in the case.