In a significant development from Houston, a Texas grand jury has officially indicted the individual accused of murdering Jonathan Joss, the voice actor famed for his role on “King of the Hill.” The indictment charges Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 57, with murder, but questions remain regarding the potential categorization of the crime as a hate crime.

The circumstances surrounding Joss’ death have drawn attention to possible motives tied to his sexual orientation. San Antonio police have yet to clarify whether their investigation has revealed any connections between the actor’s identity and the fatal incident. Efforts to reach them for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Similarly, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has chosen not to provide any insights on the matter at this time.

The tragic event unfolded on June 1, when Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, were confronted by Ceja Alvarez while at their San Antonio residence. The property had already suffered the devastation of a fire earlier in the year, in January. According to Kern de Gonzales, the assailant shouted “violent homophobic slurs” before committing the deadly act.

As the legal process advances, Ceja Alvarez’s defense team has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the charges or the allegations of hate motivation. The community and the public remain watchful for further developments in this high-profile case.

Ceja Alvarez’s attorneys did not immediately return emails seeking comment Wednesday.

In June, Alfonso Otero, one of Ceja Alvarez’s attorneys, said his client was innocent and denied making any homophobic statements.

The grand jury returned the indictment Monday, and Ceja Alvarez remains free on a $200,000 bond.

A friend of the 59-year-old Joss has said that Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and the two had argued for years.

Initially, San Antonio police had said there was no evidence indicating the shooting was related to Joss’ sexual orientation. But San Antonio Police Chief William McManus later walked back that statement, saying it had been “premature” and that whether Joss’ sexual orientation played a role in the shooting was “part of the investigation.”

The district attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday that Ceja Alvarez “is charged with murder, which is the most serious charge applicable to this crime under Texas law. As the case is still pending, no additional details or information can be released at this time.”

Under Texas law, a hate crime — if there’s a conviction — would be handled as an enhancement during sentencing and not as a separate charge.

Joss was the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular “King of the Hill” animated series, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show, which Joss had already worked on, premiered in August.

Joss also had a recurring role on the television show “Parks and Recreation,” playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series “Tulsa King” in 2022.