Ronald Michael Hitchcock, accused of the 2012 murder of Deborah Ann Crouch, will now have a disposition/reset hearing on Friday, September 25, after the case was continued at the request of the Public Defender. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
San Bernardino, CA – Big Bear murder suspect Ronald Michael Hitchcock, 59, has been granted a continuance until Friday, September 25, at the request of Public Defender Rod Curbelo. Curbelo explained to Judge J. David Mazurek that despite several delays he is still hoping to resolve the matter.
Hitchcock, who is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $1 million bail, appeared in court August 19 for a disposition/reset hearing.
THE INCIDENT
Hitchcock is facing two felony charges after Crouch’s body and that of a dog were retrieved from a submerged car in Big Bear Lake on September 15, 2012.
Big Bear Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Swim Beach area of Meadow Park about 6 a.m. on that date, and made contact with a man (Hitchcock) — who was inside the fencing at Swim Beach and yelling — he explained his vehicle had crashed through the locked front gate and into the lake, according to a media advisory issued at the time by the Big Bear Station.
Deborah Ann Crouch (Contributed Photo)
Sheriff’s Aviation’s 40-King was dispatched about 7 a.m. and, once over the scene, mapped the GPS coordinates of the car’s location. The car was located about 20 yards out from the beach.
The Sheriff’s Department’s dive team went into Big Bear Lake and found the vehicle, which contained the female victim (Crouch) and a dog. They were both pronounced deceased at the scene.
INVESTIGATION/ARREST
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives were summoned to the scene and, following their investigation — which included a search of Crouch’s residence on E Lane in Erwin Lake — arrested Hitchcock on suspicion of murder. (75)