An Apple Valley man has been arrested for the 2022 murder of 16-year-old Robert “Bobby” Schmidt Jr., officials announced Tuesday. Antonio Rodriguez, 26, was identified as the suspect after a prolonged investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Rodriguez was already in custody for an unrelated assault charge when he was booked for murder at the High Desert Detention Center.
Schmidt was found stabbed to death on October 18, 2022, in a dirt field near Navajo Road, just north of James A. Woody Park, where his mother last saw him. Elizabeth Schmidt, Bobby’s mother, had dropped him off at the park the day before he was found dead. She reported him missing after realizing he hadn’t returned home and later discovered the scene being taped off by the fire department.
The arrest of Rodriguez marks a significant development in a case that has left the Apple Valley community shaken. Bobby’s family expressed relief at the arrest, with his mother stating, “I’m so relieved we can finally say my boy has gotten justice.” The family had been searching for answers since the tragic event and had set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and share their grief.
Rodriguez is being held without bail and is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday in the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detective Jacob Rollins of the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division.
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