Roommate, Cat Killing Trial Set After Lengthy Delay: IE COURT

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — A 41-year-old man accused of killing his roommate in their Cathedral City apartment on Halloween night in 2022 will see a courtroom trial after a lengthy delay, according to court records.

Joseph Ortega was initially charged in the death of his roommate, Jova Saint Ives Geller after officers discovered Gellar's body, as well as the remains of Geller's two pet cats, inside the Cathedral City apartment he shared with Ortega, according to police.

Ortega pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and two cruelty to animals charges on Nov. 3, 2022, according to court records.

In April of 2024, Following a preliminary hearing at the Larson Justice Center Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge James Stafford Hawkins found there was sufficient evidence to bind Ortega over for trial on first-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing firearm allegation.

According to case records, the next trial date is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025. In the meantime, he remains in custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, with bail set at $1 million.

It was just after 10 p.m. on Halloween night 2o22 when the Cathedral City Police Department arrived at the Pickfair Apartments shortly after 10 p.m. at 36700 Pickfair St., near Monty Hall Drive. They investigated reports of a man down and found Geller was located inside an apartment with obvious trauma to his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Cathedral City Fire Department paramedics.

Geller's two cats were also found dead in the residence. The means of the pets' death was not specified.

Ortega was detained in the apartment without incident and questioned by homicide detectives, culminating in his being arrested without incident two hours later.

A possible motive for the deaths was not disclosed.

Ortega has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Roommate, 2 Cats Found Dead In Cathedral City Apartment: Charges Filed