Quadruple homicide suspect appears for secret hearing

A man accused of fatally shooting four people in Palm Springs in February appeared at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Thursday morning for a secret hearing.

Jose Larin-Garcia, 19, is accused in the murders of Jacob Montgomery, 19, Juan Duarte Raya, 18, Yuliana Garcia, 17, and Carlos Campos Rivera, 25.

It is not known what was discussed during this morning’s hearing, which was held behind closed doors. Both the prosecution and defense are under a gag order and are unable to talk to media.

On February 28, Larin-Garcia was ordered to stand trial for the quadruple homicide. He last appeared in court on March 14 for a post-preliminary hearing. He faces four charges of murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of committing multiple murders, which could make him eligible for the death penalty.

He is set to return to court on May 24 for a trial readiness conference.

At 11:40 p.m on February 3, an accident was reported near the intersection of Sunny Dunes Road and El Placer Road in Palm Springs. The bodies of Yuliana Garcia, Juan Duarte Raya, and Jacob Montgomery were all found inside the vehicle, with gunshot wounds to the head, according to court testimony. At 12:15 a.m on February 4., the body of Carlos Campos Rivera was found near the intersection of Theresa and Cannon Drive. He had also suffered from a gunshot wound.

During a preliminary hearing, Deputy District Attorney Clark argued that Larin-Garcia had shot Carlos Campos Rivera as he was standing near the vehicle which he, Montgomery, Garcia, and Duarte-Raya were in. Larin-Garcia then shot the three occupants of the car before jumping out prior to its crash on Sunny Dunes Road.