Former Matlock series regular David Del Rio has been questioned again about the alleged Sept. 26 sexual assault incident, which led to his firing from the show.
According to sources, Del Rio, with his new attorney Shawn Holley whom he retained following his October dismissal, requested to be interviewed again by Matlock producer CBS Studios, which conducted the original investigation immediately after it was reported days after the alleged incident.
The request was granted, and Del Rio, accompanied by Holley, was reinterviewed by the studio around Thanksgiving. The new testimony led to CBS Studios redoing a couple of other interviews, I hear.
It is unclear whether significant new information has come to light through the new probe, first reported by TMZ, that could impact the outcome of the original investigation.
As Matlock creator, executive producer and showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman told Deadline, Del Rio’s character Billy has made his last appearance on the show and will be written off in upcoming episodes.
“The last episode you see him is in 7, and then you find out how Billy’s story ends, which is in a very organic way that has to do with our whole office and how things are being shaped in this merger,” she said.
Episode 8, Matlock’s fall finale, airs tonight on CBS.
As Deadline previously reported, the alleged Sept. 26 incident involved fellow Matlock series regular Leah Lewis. A report of the incident, which we hear happened in Lewis’ trailer, triggered the internal investigation. Del Rio was fired and escorted off the Paramount lot, where the series is filming, the day the alleged assault was reported, believed to be Oct. 2.