Murder in the Wicked West is taking a closer look at the case of Allan “Rick” Godfrey Jr., a rodeo rider who was murdered by his landlord, Dale Brewster, in Phelan, California.
On the morning of April 18, 2015, detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after receiving a call from Brewster, who claimed to have been in a fight with Godfrey.
He told detectives that the incident happened the previous day and that the 39-year-old, who lived in a trailer on his property, fled the scene, and he hadn’t seen or heard from him since.
Godfrey’s family hadn’t seen him or heard from him either.
That same day, they also contacted the sheriff’s office to file a missing person’s report, which prompted a search by law enforcement.
On Dec. 8, a man riding his dirt bike in the Mojave Desert in Llano near 228th Street and Fort Tejon Road found bones sticking out of a pair of jeans.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials arrived on the scene and confirmed the bones were human remains.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelThe missing person investigation turned into a homicide investigation when the remains were identified as Godfrey on March 7, 2016.
A police investigation led to Dale Brewster’s arrest
On Sept. 23, 2016, police officials arrested Brewster and his girlfriend at a motel on West Old Highway 66 in Seligman, Arizona, in connection with Godfrey’s murder.
They were booked into the Prescott Jail, where they were held on a $1 million bond.
According to a statement by Major Crimes Deputy District Attorney Justin Crocker, Brewster strangled Godfrey to death after he beat him, tied him up, and used duct tape to cover his mouth.
To dispose of the body, Brewster buried it in the desert.
His cellphone records showed that he was in the desert the day Godfrey went missing.
A jury convicted Dale Brewster of murdering Allan “Rick” Godfrey Jr.
A Victorville Superior Court judge sentenced Brewster to 55 years in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder on May 11, 2018.
Officials said charges against his girlfriend were dropped because there wasn’t enough evidence to convict her of a crime.
Records show that Brewster is serving his time at the California State Prison in Los Angeles County, and he will be eligible for parole in September 2041.
Murder in the Wicked West airs Mondays at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery.