Big Bear Lake murder suspect Ronald Michael Hitchcock, charged with the 2012 death of his girlfriend, Deborah Ann Crouch, returned to Superior Court on Monday, December 21 for a disposition/reset hearing only to have it postponed until January 12.. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
UPDATE: Monday, December 21 – 11:42 a.m.
San Bernardino, CA – Another delay in the disposition/reset hearing has been granted Big Bear murder suspect Ronald Michael Hitchcock.
Hitchcock made a brief appearance in San Bernardino County Superior Court, Department S-16, only to have the scheduled hearing postponed by stipulation until 8:30 a.m. on January 12.
ORIGINAL STORY
San Bernardino, CA – Big Bear murder suspect Ronald Michael Hitchcock, now 59, returns to court Monday, December 21. Hitchcock, who is charged with the murder of Erwin Lake resident, Deborah Ann Crouch, 53, will be have a disposition/reset hearing at 8:30 a.m. in San Bernardino County Superior Court, Department S-16.
Hitchcock has already entered a not guilty plea to murder and cruelty to another’s animal. He is currently in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga with bail set at $1 million.
During a brief appearance before Judge J. David Mazurek on December 7, Hitchcock’s hearing was continued because Deputy District Attorney Melissa Monrreal has been engaged in another matter and has been unable to discuss the case.
THE INCIDENT
Deborah Ann Crouch (Contributed Photo)
Hitchcock is charged with 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 at 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 Big Bear Sheriff’s Station press release issued at the time.
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 report of a submerged car at Swim Beach in Big Bear Lake was received about 6 a.m. Saturday, September 15, 2002. (Contributed Photo)
The car was located about 20 yards out from the beach.
Members of the 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 AND 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.
(42)