A suspect in a New Years Day homicide in Landers was arrested and is being held without bail in an apparent landlord/tenant dispute.
At around 11 a.m. on Monday, January 1, County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Morongo Basin Station and crew from San Bernardino County Fire responded to medical call at a house in the 55800 block of Montara Road in Landers.
Deputies report finding Jeffrey Cull, a 71 year-old resident of the property, unresponsive, and declared him dead at the scene. Also in the house was William Durst, a 54 year-old resident of Santa Monica and the owner of the Montara Road property.
The County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, responded and assumed the investigation. Detectives report that Durst arrived at the location and attempted to force Cull to leave. Cull refused to leave, and an argument ensued. at which point detectives say Durst sprayed Cull with bear spray and placed him in a chokehold. They say Cull lost consciousness and succumbed to his injury.
William Durst was arrested for investigation into murder and booked into the Morongo Basin jail, where he is being held without bail.
