Rodolfo Gonzalez (Waupaca Co. Jail)
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A New London man accused of killing his mother and then setting her apartment on fire last month will undergo a mental competency exam.
Rodolfo Gonzalez is charged with intentional homicide, arson and mutilating a corpse for allegedly fatally stabbing his mother, covering her head with cat litter and then setting fire to her New London apartment, a criminal complaint states. Gonzalez was previously deemed not competent to stand trial on attempted homicide charges for allegedly attacking his mother last year.
At a review hearing Thursday, Gonzalez’s attorney raised the issue of mental competency, which refers to a suspect’s ability to understand the court proceedings and assist in their own defense. If Gonzalez is deemed not competent to stand trial, the case against him would be put on hold while he receives psychiatric treatment. He remains in jail with a $1 million cash bond.
According to the criminal complaint, emergency crews responded to the fifth-floor apartment, 505 Division Street, on July 26.
The fire was deemed suspicious, as “fire personnel advised there were at least three separate fires set within the apartment with one of them being set between the decedent’s legs on the bed where she had been found lying. Fire damage to her clothing and legs was observed and her face/mouth/head appeared to be covered with cat litter,” the complaint states.
Security cameras showed Gonzalez walking on the fifth floor at the time of the fire. He was later arrested near a school. Police found two lighters on him.
An autopsy determined the woman was dead before the fires were set.
“The cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries to the neck and also noted that no soot was present in decedent’s lungs, and no CO2 in decedent’s blood indicating that decedent had expired prior to the fires being set. This evidence suggests that the fires were set for the purposes of attempting to conceal the homicide,” the complaint states.
The criminal complaint notes officers were familiar with Gonzalez because he “was charged with attempted first degree intentional homicide of the same victim arising from a violent incident on 02/23/2025 in Outagamie County.”
According to the criminal complaint, Rodolfo allegedly attacked his mother and another man in the residence with a rock and a knife.
In that case, he was deemed not mentally competent to proceed with trial. A review hearing is scheduled for Aug. 11.
According to court documents, Gonzalez’s release was approved at a May 7 hearing, with a variety of conditions. Those included cooperating with treatment and evaluations.
On June 4, Outagamie County District Attorney Melinda Tempelis updated the court, noting that Criminal Justice Treatment Services “is not willing to accept this case for services” because “this is a suspended case and he is not on bond and due to the significant liability.”
However, Tempelis wrote: “The only way for the Court to ensure compliance with the Court’s ordered non-monetary conditions is for the Defendant to sign appropriate releases. This is essential to community protection and for redetermination of his competency.”
“Even though the Defendant has been deemed not competent to proceed to trial in a criminal matter, that is very different than his current Chapter 51 order. It is also different than competency to be able to follow basic rules of an institution. While in custody over the last year, he was not subject to restraints or medication orders. Currently, he is living independently in the community and managing day to day activities. The State is not aware of any guardianship order. Because of this, the State believes he is competent enough to follow the basic rules outlined by the Court and be able to sign releases,” Tempelis wrote.
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