A stretch of Ricky Road in the rural Hurleton area in California is now the center of a grim homicide investigation after neighbors discovered a burned human skull on a local property. Joseph Dexter Taylor, 52, is currently behind bars in Butte County, facing a string of serious charges, including murder, arson, and weapons offenses, following the grisly find.
The investigation came to life on March 21 when two people called 911 to report finding what appeared to be human skeletal remains. According to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, these witnesses told authorities that Taylor had shown up at their home in the early morning hours of March 20.
They described him as “agitated” and noted he was talking about a cremation. The witnesses also observed visible burn marks on Taylor’s legs.
While formal DNA confirmation is still pending, investigators believe the remains belong to 33-year-old Chris Kidwell. Kidwell had reportedly been living on Taylor’s property since late 2025. His family had reached out to the sheriff’s office just a day before the remains were found, stating they hadn’t been able to contact him for about a week.
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The details provided by the District Attorney’s Office suggest a violent encounter preceded the fire.
“Evidence from the investigation indicates Kidwell was shot before Taylor burned his body,” the DA’s press release stated. After the initial 911 call, deputies secured search warrants for two parcels of land on Ricky Road, where they recovered the remains and additional evidence.
Taylor was already sitting in the Butte County Jail on an unrelated felony warrant involving a firearm when the new charges were filed.
Beyond the murder charge, he faces counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of arson. Authorities also noted that Taylor has pending arson cases in Lake County.
During a court appearance on March 26, Taylor entered a not guilty plea to all charges. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on April 2 as the investigation continues.
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