Convicted felon arrested for the murder of Victorville woman Marion Russell

VictorValleyNews September 25, 2018

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Authorities arrested James Lee Hottinger, a previously convicted felon, for the murder of Marion Russell, 58, of Victorville during a traffic stop in Minnesota, officials said.

Russell’s body was discovered on September 6, 2018, in a desert area south of Waverly Road in Lucerne Valley. According to authorities, Russell was reported missing to the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station on September 4th.

On Friday, September 14th, homicide investigators were contacted by Officers of the Inver Grove Police Department in Minnesota.

According to a sheriff’s news release, officers conducted a traffic stop on the victim’s vehicle that was being driven by James Hottinger, 40 of Adelanto.

“Hottinger was arrested for an outstanding California parole violation and the arrest warrant for the murder of Marion Russell,” stated the release.

On Monday, September 24th investigators flew to Minnesota, recovered and processed the victim’s vehicle. Hottinger was interviewed by homicide investigators and remains in custody in Dakota County Jail. He is awaiting extradition back to California where he will be booked for the parole violation and murder.

According to public court records, Hottinger is a career criminal with a multitude of charges including kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, negligent discharge of a firearm, and burglary.

His latest arrest was on June 25, 2018, after a judge sentenced him to 120 days in county jail after he violated his parole.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact the Specialized Investigations Division-Homicide Detail, Detective James Tebbetts at (909)387-3589. Callers can remain anonymous and contact WeTip at (800)78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.

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