Naked City

Julie Ann Gonzalez (Photo by www.julieanngonzalez.com)

Suspect Named in Gonzalez Disappearance

Austin Police say that George de la Cruz, the estranged husband of missing 21-year-old mother Julie Ann Gonzalez, is being considered a person of interest in Gonzalez's disappearance. De la Cruz has been interviewed by police in connection with her late March disappearance, and police believe he "has information that could be of great assistance to the investigation" but is no longer cooperating with investigators. Gonzalez was last seen at de la Cruz's South Austin residence; she was there to pick up the couple's 2-year-old daughter, of whom they shared custody. According to de la Cruz, Gonzalez told him that she needed a few more days and asked if he could continue to watch their daughter. Gonzalez has not been seen or heard from since. Initially police thought she might have disappeared voluntarily, "based on text messages sent to Julie's family and friends from her cell phone." But the length of time since her last communication now leads police to believe otherwise. Reportedly, police are now looking into those text messages to determine whether they came from her at all. Police executed a search warrant at de la Cruz's home in May but were not able to recover all the items they thought they would find. Anyone with information about Gonzalez's whereabouts should contact the Austin Police Department's homicide tip line at 477-3588. – Jordan Smith

Texas Supremes Reject Keller Appeal

A view of the state Capitol dome from the State House rooftop, as workers continue their restoration of the historic structure (Photo by John Anderson)

The Texas Supreme Court has declined to consider an appeal from Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Sharon Keller, who was seeking to have the court toss out the public warning she was handed for her involvement in shutting the CCA to a death row inmate's last appeal. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued the warning based in part on Keller's failure to follow her court's execution-day procedures in the case of Michael Richard, who was executed in 2007 without his final appeal being considered. Keller disposed of communications from Richard's attorneys without acting on them and without referring the communications to the duty judge, as was procedure. On appeal, Keller had argued that the SCJC had the authority to recommend her removal or to issue a censure but not to issue a public warning. Her attorney, Chip Babcock, told the Associated Press that his client was disappointed with the Supremes' decision not to hear the case. – J.S.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Austin Chronicle staff writer Katherine Gregor is leaving the paper to work for the city of Austin. Starting at the end of the month, Gregor "will be providing a range of support to the new Sustain­ability Officer, Lucia Athens, and will be providing assistance to [the Public Information Office] on a number of projects, including the ImagineAustin Comprehensive Plan," said Chief Communications Director Doug Matthews in an e-mail announcing the hire. Gregor adds, "I'll also work on special projects, which will bear a close resemblance to the topics I've written about for the Chron," including urban planning, transportation and transit initiatives, the Waller Creek redevelopment, and more. While in the Public Information Office, she will report to City Manager Marc Ott's chief of staff Anthony Snipes. "Overall," she says, "my mission will be to enhance City of Austin communications, both internally and with the public, toward a more sustainable city." – The News Staff