Crime

Update 12/8/25 Two additional suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting. Both suspects are 18-year-olds who were taken into custody on Sunday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. No further suspects are believed to be involved or outstanding, the agency confirmed. Original Report 12/5/25 THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – One person is in custody

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted drug dealer who supplied a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old Temecula man was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison. A Riverside jury in September convicted Quinn Aaron McKellips, 39, of Winchester of second-degree murder for the death of Calin Sender in 2020.   

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A months-long investigation into a juvenile found with a marijuana/THC vape pen has led to the arrest of an Indio man who is facing multiple charges of child sexual assault, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The case began on September 19, 2025, when a School Resource Deputy from the

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A report from the California Department of Justice found Palm Springs leads Riverside County in hate crime incidents for 2024. According to the report, Palm Springs recorded 10 incidents last year, with 34 in total for the entire county. That’s nearly a third of all incidents, and reflects a trend

Update 12/5/25 The judge at Friday’s Felony Settlement Conference ordered Gaeta to be held on no bail, the District Attorney’s office confirmed. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 23. Original Report 12/4/25 INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A court appearance for Marcos Cruz Gaeta, the 45-year-old man out on bail for a 2016

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The family of Jamie Maher, a 30-year-old Indio woman who was killed in 2016, is now speaking out after the man arrested for her murder was released on bail and recently arrested in Indio.  “When this monster shot my daughter seven times, including once in the face while she begged for

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man accused of a suspected DUI crash that killed a La Quinta teen has now been charged with murder. Jose Villegas Orbe, 47, of Palm Springs, was back in court on Tuesday, where he received an additional charge of murder after the teen he struck with his car, Liam Cantu,

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 41-year-old Palm Springs man was charged with possessing and uploading child pornography. Matthew David Pettineo was arrested last week along the 800 Block of Village Square North. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team served a search warrant at the address, seizing computers and

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – An employee with the Palm Springs Unified School District was placed on paid leave after being arrested earlier this month. Jarvis Williams, 45, of Coachella, was arrested on November 15 after allegedly recording video at a bathroom on the 72000 block of State Highway 111, according to the Riverside County

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Police are investigating a burglary at Palm Springs Motors Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center. Security cameras captured the thieves during the burglary at Quick Lane, located at 200 Highway 111. Police said details were limited and the case remains under investigation. If anyone from the public has information reference

Update 11/26/25 Jonathan Rios Franco was arraigned Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is scheduled to return to court on December 8. Original Report 11/25/25 INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Two suspects in a deadly shooting last week in Indio were officially charged with murder. Zachary Ashton Hamrick, 19, and Jonathan Rios