Date: April 18, 2017
Contact: Allen S. Ethridge, 520-366-5515 x2101
Contact: Matt Stoffolano, 520-366-5515 x2501
On April 17, 2017, defendant Gil Gaxiola was sentenced in Cochise County to 76 years in prison after having been convicted of attempted first degree murder of a National Park Service employee. He was also convicted of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault, kidnapping and theft of means of transportation from an incident that occurred at Chiricahua National Monument in 2013.
On August 28, 2013, Karen Gonzales, an employee at Chiricahua National Monument, was assaulted by Gaxiola who used a large rock to inflict serious and life threatening injuries. Gonzales was air lifted to and hospitalized at the University Medical Center in Tucson after the assault. Gonzales’s assigned work vehicle was also taken from the scene by the suspect and later recovered in Douglas, AZ.
The National Park Service again extends our most sincere thanks to all those who worked so hard for justice in this case, especially the Cochise County Attorney's Office and the Cochise County Sheriff's Office. The National Park Service Investigative Services Branch greatly assisted in bringing this case to conclusion. In addition other agencies contributed significantly to the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of this offender: the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Laboratory.
We also express our continued hope the victim in this case will continue to progress in her recovery and that she, her family, and friends can find a measure of peace and closure with the completion of this case.
