Formal Charges Filed In Oxnard Murder Case
Friday April 05, 2024
(Photos of Jimenez and Garfias courtesy OPD)
Updated--The Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed formal charges Friday against the woman and man accused in connection with the shooting death of an Oxnard woman in March and these charges reveal new details.
It was just before midnight on March 17th that 35-year-old Yanelly Vargas was shot in an industrial area near Five Points in Oxnard.
She died after being taken to VCMC.
Her ex-boyfriend, 36-year-old Jorge Garfias of Ventura, and 33-year-old Margarita Jimenez of Oxnard were arrested on April 3rd in connection with the killing.
Friday prosecutors filed formal charges against Garfias and Jimenez and they revealed more details about what happened.
In addition to first degree murder charges, both defendants are also facing a special circumstance allegation that the killing happened during a kidnapping.
That makes this a case that potentially could result in a sentence of life without parole or death if they are convicted.
Jimenez is also facing a special allegation of use of a firearm as prosecutors allege she was the shooter.
Prosecutors allege that the incident began with Vargas being tricked into coming out of a bar where Garfias and Jimenez emerged from a truck, beat her, and forced her into the truck.
It's alleged that after 15 minutes, Vargas got out of the truck.
Prosecutors allege that Jimenez followed Vargas and fatally shot her, a shot that could be heard by police dispatchers who were taking a 911 call about the incident.
Garfias and Jimenez then allegedly fled in the truck.
Prosecutors say the entire incident was captured on surveillance video.
Garfias and Jimenez appeared in court Friday but did not enter pleas to the charges or special allegations and their arraignment was continued until May 3rd.
They remain in the Ventura County Jail and are now being held without bail.
According to court documents, Garfias and Jimenez have faced criminal charges in the past.
Several years ago, Jimenez plead guilty to assault with a firearm causing great bodily injury and was sentenced to five years in prison back in 2016.
Garfias does not have any convictions but he faced gang related charges that were ultimately dismissed in 2007.
