On the night of February 11, 2026, in the quiet community of Thermal, California, a grim discovery was made at a residence on Polk Street. Responding to a call at approximately 11:33 p.m. regarding two possibly deceased individuals, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff's Station arrived to find a tragic scene. Inside the home, 50-year-old Hispanic male Oscar Romero Castro and another 47-year-old Hispanic man were found, both having sustained apparent gunshot wounds. Medical aid was rendered, but both men were pronounced dead at the scene, launching a double homicide investigation.
The Riverside Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit quickly took the lead in the investigation. Their efforts initially led them to identify a suspect, 43-year-old Alberto Tomas Padron of Mecca. With assistance from the Riverside District Attorney's Office Gang Impact Team, investigators located and arrested Padron in Mecca on February 12th without incident. He was subsequently booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on murder charges.
However, the case took an unexpected turn as the investigation continued. Following Padron's arrest, new leads and evidence emerged, thanks in part to information from the public. After corroborating this new information, investigators determined that Padron was not the person responsible for the murders. On February 17, 2026, Alberto Tomas Padron was exonerated of the charges and released from custody. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has since announced that the investigation is ongoing as they continue to follow all leads to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for the deaths of Oscar Romero Castro and the second victim. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.
