Three Additional Suspects Identified In 2016 Apple Valley Cold Case Murder; Two Arrested Locally, One Awaiting Extradition

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Cold Case Homicide Team have identified and arrested three additional suspects in connection with the 2016 murder of an Apple Valley man.

The arrests stem from the homicide investigation of Michael Brooks, 54, of Apple Valley, who was found dead inside his home in the 12600 block of Apple Valley Road on Aug. 10, 2016.

According to investigators, Apple Valley Station deputies responded to the residence after Brooks was found deceased and determined he had died from a single gunshot wound.

Detectives with the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, responded and assumed the investigation. Authorities later determined Brooks’ injuries were not self-inflicted.

Despite identifying and interviewing multiple persons of interest, detectives exhausted available leads and the case eventually went cold.

The Sheriff’s Cold Case Homicide Team reopened the investigation in 2025 and identified Michael Austin Roberts as a suspect. Roberts, a resident of Apple Valley, now 27, was 18 years old when the crime occurred.

On Feb. 3, 2026, Roberts was interviewed while in custody at West Valley Detention Center on an unrelated charge. Following the interview, he was arrested and booked for the murder of Brooks.

In an update released June 17, 2026, investigators announced they had identified three additional suspects believed to be involved in the homicide.

Alexander Francisco Cortez, 30, of Pendergrass, Georgia, was located and arrested on June 5, 2026. Cortez remains in custody in Georgia and is awaiting extradition to San Bernardino County on a murder charge.

Denise Reames-Watkins, 70, of Lucerne Valley, was arrested on June 12, 2026, and Hector Rodriguez, 30, of Adelanto, was arrested on June 16, 2026.

Reames-Watkins and Rodriguez were both booked into the High Desert Detention Center for murder and remain in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.

The investigation remains active.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call or text REPORT to We-Tip at 844-909-3006.

Related Articles:

Nearly 10 Years Later, Arrest Made in 2016 Apple Valley Murder of Michael Brooks

Police Release Identity of Man Found Murdered in Apple Valley

Authorities Conducting a Death Investigation in Apple Valley

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