The quiet morning in the 12000 block of Sixth Street in Yucaipa turned tragic when 55-year-old Larry Adams was discovered lifeless in his living room on October 31, 2025. His brother, 50-year-old Matthew Ludwig, alerted authorities around 7:20 a.m., saying his sibling wasn’t breathing. But what seemed like a 911 medical call quickly escalated into a homicide investigation.
When deputies from the Yucaipa Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department arrived, they found Larry Adams deceased on the living room floor. Matthew Ludwig was detained at the scene without incident. The atmosphere shifted from sorrow to suspicion as investigators uncovered an outstanding felony warrant for Ludwig—and inconsistencies in his statements.
That prompted the homicide detail of the sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division to take over. Given the suspicious circumstances, Ludwig was arrested and booked on a murder charge under Penal Code 187. He remains held at the Central Detention Center as the case proceeds.
In the heart of Yucaipa, the shock is palpable. Neighbors who once smiled at Adams in passing now struggle to make sense of a brother turning to police rather than comforting kin. The tight-knit community of Yucaipa Valley is grappling with grief and disbelief, and the ripple effects of this violent loss are stretching far beyond the home on Sixth Street.
Friends and loved ones remember Larry as a steady presence—a man whose life was anchored in routine and roots. But now, the memories are shadowed by questions: Why did Matthew call it in? What exactly happened inside that home in the early hours? Investigators are piecing together the timeline, and the unanswered questions are mounting.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to step forward. The sheriff’s Homicide Detail can be reached at 909-890-4904, or folks can submit anonymous tips through We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME. Every detail could matter—whether about events the night before or anything odd noticed in the days leading up to the tragedy.
Amid the heartbreak, the incident stands as a stark reminder: even in quiet neighborhoods, unseen tragedies can unfold. For Yucaipa, justice is now on the minds of many—as much a community imperative as it is a law-enforcement mandate.
