**UPDATE**- June 2026
Michael Austin Roberts, 27-years-old, Resident of Apple Valley, Alexander Francisco Cortez, 30-years-old, Resident of Pendergrass, GA, Denise Reames-Watkins, 70-years-old, Resident of Lucerne Valley, and Hector Rodriguez, 30-years-old, Resident of Adelanto were identified by law enforcement as suspects in the case.

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.

**UPDATE** In 2025, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department resumed the investigation into Michael Brooks’ murder. During the investigation, Michael Roberts was identified as a suspect in the murder. Roberts, who is now 27 years old, was 18 years old when this crime occurred.

On February 3, 2026, Roberts was in-custody at West Valley Detention Center on an unrelated charge. Roberts was interviewed by investigators. At the conclusion of the interview, Roberts was arrested and booked at West Valley Detention Center for the murder of Michael Brooks.

On Michael Brooks, 53, was found by Apple Valley Station deputies at the 12600 block of Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley, California. Michael was found to have died from a single gunshot wound. During the investigation, detectives learned the wounds were not self-inflicted. Michael's family continues to advocate for their loved one and seek answers in his case.

If you have any information on the unsolved homicide of Michael Brooks, please call San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904, To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, you can call WeTip at (800) 782-7463.

Please remember that these victims are submitted to us by their family. Our organization does not investigate cases. We advocate, educate, and help raise awareness. Speculation on the details of the case is not helpful on this platform. Comments that are deemed inappropriate and/or potentially hurtful will be removed.