RIVERSIDE – Two men charged by the District Attorney’s Office in last month’s fatal stabbing of a man in Riverside’s Arlington neighborhood made their first court appearance today, July 7, 2025.

Christopher James Buschbaum, 36, and Myron Vad Daniels, 67, have been charged with murder in the death of 58-year-old Michael Pope. Both defendants have also been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and charged with robbery. It is also alleged in the criminal complaint that Buschbaum personally used a knife.

Buschbaum and Daniels appeared at the Hall of Justice in Riverside to be arraigned. Their arraignments were continued at the defense's request to July 21 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 32.

On June 29, 2025, Riverside police officers responded to the 9900 block of Magnolia Avenue and located the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. Responding firefighter-paramedics provided emergency medical aid and Pope was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

Detectives determined a physical altercation occurred between Pope, Buschbaum, and Daniels, which led to the fatal stabbing. The victim and both defendants were homeless at the time of the stabbing.

Following the stabbing, Buschbaum and Daniels were located nearby by officers and arrested. They were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, where they remain in custody held without bail.

The case, FERI2503634-1 and -2, is being prosecuted by Deputy DA Tim Mulhere of the DA’s Homicide Trial Team and remains under investigation.