Family seeks justice for Montel Robinson, man killed in Indio stabbing

The sisters of Montel Robinson, 30, are seeking justice for their little brother.

Robinson was killed after being stabbed on the evening of Dec. 6, 2021 at Miles Ave Park in Indio.

“It felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest, literally,” said his sister Saundra Mendez.

A son, a brother, a father– taken too soon.

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“She said he passed away and you know, I just broke down,” his sister Andrea Thompson added. “We felt like parents because we’re older than him. And we just knew he had all this time left you know,” said his eldest sister Ann Thompson.

He was also a father to his 9-year-old daughter.

“Who could hurt him? He’s a fun a guy, he’s loving he’s a good dad, great uncle, best brother– our only brother,” Ann added.

They said he was someone who loved to make people laugh. “His smile, we’re gonna miss it. He’s always smiling, always. So it’s really hard that we’re not going to see him anymore,” Andrea added.

His sisters are now demanding answers, as to why he was murdered.

They said Robinson lived in Rialto, and was only in Indio for about a month prior to his death.

“We knew he was in Indio, actually since September but we didn’t know who he was visiting. So we never got to see him again after that,” Ann said.

The family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.

On Monday, Indio police arrested a suspect, Juan Hernandez, 29, of Indio on the 83-500 block of Indio Boulevard.

Officers said they arrived at the scene and found Robinson with a stab wound. Officers immediately provided first aid until medics arrived. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Robinson and Hernandez got into an argument before the stabbing.

“We know that he passed in pain and alone, so we just want him to know we’re here now and we’re taking the necessary steps,” Andrea added.

Hernandez was officially charged with murder on Wednesday. He appeared in court on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty.

He was booked into John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he is being held on $1 million bail.

If anyone has any further information regarding this case, contact the Indio Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, Detective Chris Cordova at (760) 391-4051, or call anonymous information through Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP(7867).