April 28, 2024 - Riverside County Sheriff Department officials report on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 6:54 p.m., Deputies from the Southwest Sheriff’s Station responded to the intersection of Winchester Road and Thompson Road in the community of Winchester after receiving a report of a possible deceased person.

Upon arriving at the location, the deputies located an adult male suffering from a possible stab wound. The victim was later identified as Boris Stepanyuk, a 29-year-old resident of Winchester. Initial responding deputies pronounced Stepanyuk deceased, and the Riverside County Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation.

With the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and deputies from the Major Crimes Bureau, Joseph Mokate, a 60-year-old male resident of Hemet, was detained in connection to the incident. Mokate was later arrested and transported to the Cois Byrd Detention Center, where he was booked for murder. This investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.

There are no outstanding suspects sought in this investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Anderson with the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955–1700 or Investigator Gasparini with the Southwest Sheriff’s Station at (951) 696–3050.
Source: Riverside County Sheriff Department