Investigation into Jonathan Joss' Death as a Hate Crime Yields No Evidence

Published: June 3, 2025

The San Antonio Police Department has concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that the death of Jonathan Joss, a voice actor on "King of the Hill", was a hate crime. This contradicts claims made by Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, who alleged that the shooting was motivated by Joss' sexuality.

Joss, 59, was shot and killed on Sunday, June 1, during a dispute on his Texas property. De Gonzales claimed that the act of violence was a hate crime, stating that Joss was targeted because of his sexual orientation.

However, according to a public information officer for the SAPD, "Our investigation has found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that the Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation. We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly."

Suspect Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam, 56, was detained after fleeing the scene in a vehicle and was booked for murder. The investigation is still ongoing, but it has been confirmed that the suspect was a neighbor of Joss.

In a Facebook post, de Gonzales shared his side of the story, alleging that he and Joss were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept their relationship. He also claimed that they found the skull of one of their deceased dogs seemingly left out for them to see when they arrived at the property, causing "severe emotional distress."

De Gonzales went on to say that he and Joss were not threatening anyone, but were grieving and standing side by side when the man fired, and Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life.

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The couple wed on Valentine's Day this year, and de Gonzales noted that they were "newlyweds" who were "planning our future."

He also praised Joss for giving him "more love in our time together than most people ever get."

"He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other," de Gonzales wrote. "I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved. To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together."