John Tyler Scott, 52, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the death of 74-year-old Bonnie Thompson of Wildomar.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark arraigned Scott, also known as Justin Scott Tyler, at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta and scheduled a felony settlement conference for Feb. 25 at the same courthouse, according to City News Service via Patch. Scott is being held without bail at the Cois Byrd Detention Center.

Along with murder, Scott faces an elder abuse charge and a sentence-enhancing allegation of inflicting injuries on a person over 70.

The case stems from a suspicious death investigation that began more than a year ago. Riverside County Sheriff's deputies responded to Thompson's home in the 33000 block of Hidden Willow Drive, in The Farm community near Bundy Canyon Road, on the afternoon of July 27, 2025. Sgt. Carlos Mendoza of the Sheriff's Department said the Central Homicide Unit took over the case after deputies found Thompson had been dead for days. Unspecified "factors" pointed to foul play, according to court documents and Mendoza.

Thompson's exact cause of death has not been disclosed.

Detectives spent months building the case before obtaining an arrest warrant. Scott was arrested Sept. 11 in the area of Harvest Way and Bundy Canyon Road and taken into custody without incident, the Press-Enterprise reported. He was booked into the Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of murder and elder abuse.

The Press-Enterprise identified Thompson as Scott's mother. Authorities at the arraignment did not specify the relationship, and no motive has been disclosed.

Scott has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. A public defender was appointed to represent him at a Sept. 17 court appearance, according to Patch.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Riverside County Sheriff's investigator DiMaggio at 951-955-2777.