Judge Rules Sufficient Evidence For A Cold Case Moorpark Murder Defendant To Face Trial

Tuesday December 17, 2024

     Update--Following a preliminary hearing, a Ventura County judge ruled Monday there is sufficient evidence for the defendant in a 20-year-old cold case murder in Moorpark to stand trial.

     73-year-old Antoine Nehme of Victorville is charged with First Degree Murder, Conspiracy, and Solicitation of Murder.

     He is also facing a Special Circumstance Allegation of Murder for Financial Gain.

     He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied the special circumstance allegation.

     Nehme was 52-years-old when 71-year-old Dennis Leroy Wood of Moorpark was killed.

     It was April of 2004 and Wood was found shot to death in his home in the 12500 block of Mountain Trail Street.

     But while Ventura County Major Crimes Detectives conducted an extensive investigation the case went cold after they exhausted all leads.

     However, the case was reviewed from time to time over the years and Nehme, who knew Wood, became a person of interest.

     Then in 2023 the authorities say evidence was finally uncovered that allegedly linked Nehme to the crime.

     That led to charges being filed earlier this year and he was arrested.

     The two day preliminary hearing involved the introduction of evidence and the testimony from several witnesses.

     Nehme remains in jail and is being held without bail.

     He is due back in court on December 31st.