Accused Wildomar Man Pleads Innocence In Mother's Slaying

WILDOMAR, CA — A man accused of fatally stabbing his 64-year-old mother at her Wildomar home pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges.

Evan Jon Zavala, 24, was arrested last month following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation in the 33000 block of Breckenridge Trail, near Gafford Road.

Along with murder, Zavala is charged with a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

The defendant was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Jeff Zimel, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for July 16 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Zavala is being held on $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Lance Stoyer, patrol deputies were called to the Breckenridge address just before 10 p.m. on April 23 to investigate reports of an assault.

Stoyer said that when deputies arrived, they found the woman, whose identity was not released, "suffering from stab wounds."

The victim was taken to nearby Inland Valley Medical Center, where she died a short time later.

Zavala was taken into custody without incident at the property.

There was no word on a possible motive for the alleged attack.

Zavala has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.