Jury Finds Thousand Oaks Man Guilty Of Murdering Girlfriend

Tuesday October 15, 2024

     Updated--The jury in the trial of a Thousand Oaks man charged with the torture-murder of his live-in girlfriend has found him guilty of murdering her but a special circumstance allegation that it was Intentional Murder Involving Torture was found NOT to be true.

     However they did find 24-year-old Saul Nava guilty of a separate charge of torture as well as aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and possession of child pornography.

     The jury also convicted Nava on three counts of domestic violence.

     The case not only involved his violent relationship with the murder victim, 24-year-old Alisen Takacs-Escobar, but also extensive violence in a prior relationship with another female victim.

     The panel spent a little more than one day in deliberations before returning their verdicts.

      Nava called 9-1-1 in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve 2021.

     First responders found Escobar dead in the apartment she shared with Nava in the 600 block of McCloud Avenue in Thousand Oaks.

     The Medical Examiner determined she died from blunt force trauma.

     Nava was arrested at the scene.

     Nava took the witness stand in his own defense to admit he was involved in what happened but he claimed he did not intend to kill her.

     After rendering their verdicts, the jury was thanked and excused by the judge.

     But the court still has to deal 30 special allegations relating to the case that both sides agreed to have the judge decide.

      That session is set for Wednesday.