Man Accused of Killing Menifee Car Wash Manager Over Missing Clothing Must Stand Trial, Judge Says

By City News Service:

A man accused of inflicting fatal injuries on a Menifee car wash manager during a confrontation stemming from the defendant’s mistaken belief that the victim had stolen from him will be arraigned Feb. 24 on a second-degree murder charge.

Jeremy Joseph Robbins, 38, of Lancaster, faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of killing 60-year-old Wesley Uyekawa.

Following an hourlong preliminary hearing Friday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mac Fisher found there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial in the case.

Fisher scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Feb. 24. Robbins is jailed at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, with his bail set at $1 million.

According to sheriff’s investigators, Robbins and Uyekawa did not know one another. Uyekawa was the manager of a self-serve car wash and storage facility near Interstate 215 and McCall Boulevard, where he lived on-site.

Late in the afternoon of March 22, 2014, Robbins washed his sedan at the facility and while vacuuming the vehicle, hung some dry cleaning on a nearby chain-link fence, investigators said. He drove away without retrieving the articles.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Thrum testified that the defendant returned shortly after 9 the following morning and searched unsuccessfully for the clothing.

Robbins asked Uyekawa what had happened to the clothing, but the victim did not know, Thrum said. The defendant became infuriated and left but returned 20 minutes later and confronted Uyekawa outside his office, accusing him of stealing the dry cleaning, according to testimony.

Uyekawa attempted to walk into his office, but Robbins blocked his path, then punched him in the face, investigators alleged.

“Evidence shows that Mr. Uyekawa fell to the ground and grabbed the defendant’s leg,” said Deputy District Attorney Michael Lough. “As he’s holding onto the defendant’s leg, the defendant kicks him off. He then stomped on Mr. Uyekawa’s abdomen.”

Robbins left the location, driving back to Lancaster, according to the D.A.’s office. He had been in Menifee to visit his sister.

Uyekawa called 911, and deputies arrived a short time later and took a report from the victim before he was transported to Menifee Valley Medical Center for extreme abdominal pain, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Huskey.

He said Uyekawa left the hospital later that day. However, around 9:30 a.m. on March 24, one of Uyekawa’s co-workers discovered him dead on the floor of his apartment. According to an autopsy report, Uyekawa suffered a ruptured small intestine which culminated in blood poisoning.

Investigators said there were security surveillance cameras at the business that aided in identifying Robbins. He was arrested without incident the following week at his house at 44223 Gillan Ave.

Investigators later determined that another car wash customer had taken the defendant’s dry cleaning.