The man accused of stabbing gay reality TV star Eduardo Xol to death in Palm Springs is in no hurry to go to trial. Richard Joseph Gonzales, 35, appeared in Riverside County Superior Court in Indio Wednesday, December 18, but a hearing to discuss a possible pretrial settlement was put off.
"The defense requested a motion to continue, and the next hearing is now scheduled to take place on March 24, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in dept. 3R," a spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney's office stated to the Bay Area Reporter in an email.
Gonzales' public defense attorney did not respond to a request for comment. Gonzales has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Xol's friend, Kevin Tierney, attended the hearing. He told the B.A.R. that Gonzales stood in a courtroom doorway while his case was being discussed. He said that before the case was continued, the judge granted the prosecution access to Xol's medical records. He said that he was probably the only person in attendance to observe the case because he was the only person who left the courtroom when the hearing for Gonzales ended.
Xol, 58, lived in Palm Springs and was a former San Francisco resident, actor, and a star of ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." Prosecutors stated in court records obtained by the B.A.R. that Xol was stabbed more than 20 times on September 10. He was in a coma and died in a hospital 10 days later.
The court papers classified the stabbing as domestic violence and noted Gonzales' prior domestic violence conviction involving another victim, which is admissible in subsequent domestic violence trials under California law. The documents state that Gonzales had a long juvenile and adult criminal record and was on parole at the time of the stabbing. He faces a hearing on December 30 regarding his alleged parole violation.
According to Palm Springs Police, Gonzales had called them on the morning of the incident from a location about a mile away from the apartment where Xol was stabbed. He told officers he was assaulted. Police apparently did not believe his story and arrested him for the stabbing. Those charges were upgraded to murder when Xol died on September 20.
Gonzales was ordered to remain in jail without bail until trial. A spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney's office told the B. A. R. that prosecutors do not comment publicly on whether a plea bargain is being discussed. Calls and emails to The Law Offices of the Public Defender County of Riverside were not returned.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!