A California man was found buried in his backyard just days after complaining that his housemate ransacked his bedroom.
Bradley Minder, 31, was found in a freshly-dug grave on October 15 in the backyard of the house he was renting a room from on Sylvan Drive in Riverside after colleagues reported that they had not seen or heard from him in several days, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Police then arrested his housemate, 48-year-old Richard Thomas Martinez, who made statements suggesting he killed Minder.
Authorities have said Martinez killed Minder during an argument, but did not specify what they were arguing about, KTLA reports.
Minders family, though, has since revealed that Martinez had ransacked his room just three days before.
Bradley Minder, 31, was found in a freshly-dug grave on October 15 in the backyard of the house he was renting a room from on Sylvan Drive in Riverside, California
His family has since revealed that the man who is accused of killing him had ransacked his room just three days before his body was found
He wanted to let me know that he is back at the house that he was cleaning up his room, because the man broke into his room and destroyed a lot of his stuff, Minders mother, Leona Hodo, told ABC 7.
She and other family members claimed Minder and Martinez did not know each other, but Martinez would stay off and on at the home, which belonged to his grandfather.
Bradley didnt really know him, the guy was on some bender or something, said Minders brother, Vinnie Casella.
He wasnt right in the head, Casella said, suggesting Martinez was on drugs.
He was constantly smoking meth and stuff.
The grieving brother added that his brother was prepared to leave the home once he round a new room to rent.
He noted that Martinez had previously been arrested for disorderly conduct and being in the possession of a controlled substance when he assaulted his own grandfather and then ransacked his brothers room.
He never got mad at anyone, he was never an angry person, he was loving, had a heart of gold, Hodo said.
Police arrested his housemate, 48-year-old Richard Thomas Martinez, who made statements suggesting he killed Minder
Minder was the oldest son in the family who helped raise his younger siblings, his family said.
He is now remembered as friendly and protective of those he loved.
He told me he was going to be OK, said, "I love you mom, you are my rock," and that was the last time I talked to my son, Hodo said.
A statement from the family also described Minder as the gentlest soul to ever walk this Earth.
He was a kind friend and a deeply loyal son, brother and uncle, read the statement to KTLA.
His family meant more to him than anything in the world. He forgave easily and treated everyone with pure, unadulterated love and he was a natural protector with a heart of gold.
Minder was the eldest of his family, and is being remembered as friendly and protective of those he loved
Hodo said she now plans to be in the courtroom on November 4 when Martinez is arraigned on murder charges.
He is being held without bail.
Meanwhile, Minders family is trying to raise money to help with burial expenses.
With such a short notice of his passing, his mother, sisters, nieces and nephew are currently in Kansas, having to travel to California, the online fundraiser says.
As of early Tuesday morning, it had raised $5,150 for the family.