Crime

A ride-hailing driver who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Palm Desert after the two met during a ride was sentenced to 14 years in state prison today. Ismael Gaspar, 39, of Cathedral City appeared at the Larson Justice Center on Friday where a Riverside County Superior Court Judge sentenced him to the time and

A 21-year-old man has officially been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed his passenger, a pregnant 18-year-old, back in March. Damian Antonio Flores was arrested on the morning Dec. 1 after Indio Police investigators identified him as the driver of the vehicle. Damian Flores The crash happened on March 9, 2021. Police

Residents in the Palm Desert Country Club remain shaken after two people were killed in that area just weeks apart. No arrests have been made, and the Sheriff’s Department is saying very little about either case. On Tuesday, police said they found 93-year-old Jean Grace Willrich dead in her home on Michigan Drive. HOA board

It’s day four in the Palm Springs quadruple homicide trial. Jose Larin-Garcia, a Cathedral City man, is accused of killing four people (ages 17-25): Carlos Campos Rivera, Jacob Montgomery, Yuliana Garcia and Juan Duarte Raya. The victims were all found shot and killed on the night of February 3rd, 2019. Three of the victims were

Palm Springs Police are responding to a robbery that occurred at the Citibank on E Palm Canyon. The robbery occurred just before 4 p.m. at the Citibank on 1675 E. Palm Canyon Drive. Police said the suspect displayed a handgun in his waistband. He was last seen walking southbound from the bank. Police described the

A suspect is behind bars in connection with a hit-and-run crash that took the life of a pregnant 18-year-old woman earlier this year. The crash happened on the morning of March 9, 2021 in front of the Winchell’s Donuts store on Monroe Street, north of Highway 111. Debbie Nelson, 18, was the passenger of a

The Palm Springs police chief and city manager listened intently Wednesday night for a discussion about growing issues with homeless people in the south end of downtown. Dozens of business owners met at a showroom to express frustration with health and safety hazards around their storefronts including drug use, human feces and mental illness. “All

A woman found yesterday afternoon in Palm Desert has just been identified as 93-year-old Jean Grace Willrich. Investigators were called to the 77000 block of Michigan Drive just before 1:00 on Tuesday. They say a woman was found dead in a home with “trauma to her body consistent with a homicide.” Alice McCormick-Mclean, who lives

The defense delivered an opening statement in the Palm Springs quadruple murder case on Tuesday. Jose Larin-Garcia, a Cathedral City man, is accused of killing four people (ages 17-25) on February 3rd, 2019. Larin-Garcia is being represented by criminal defense attorney John Patrick Dolan. Jose Larin Garcia and his defense team in court on November 30,

The Indio Police Department is asking for members of the community to come forward with information on a seven-vehicle crash that injured five people over the weekend. The crash happened on Saturday, Nov. 27 at approximately 5:34 p.m. on Clinton Street and Miles Avenue. Police say the crash started when a red 2011 Ford F-250

Opening statements began on Monday in the Palm Springs quadruple murder case. Jose Larin-Garcia, a Cathedral City man, is accused of killing four people (ages 17-25) on February 3rd, 2019.  “You will learn that Jose Vladimir Larin Garcia is the executioner,” said Samantha Paixao, Deputy District Attorney, Riverside County, addressing the jury in court.  Victims