Jury Selection Begins In Trial Of Thousand Oaks Man Accused Of Torture/Murder Of Girlfriend

Monday September 16, 2024

     Updated--Jury selection has started in the trial of a Ventura County man accused of the torture and murder of his live-in girlfriend.

     24-year-old Saul Nava of Thousand Oaks has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges including aggravated mayhem, torture, and first degree murder, and has denied more than 30 special allegations.

     The charges and special allegations not only involve her death but also what appears to have been extensive domestic violence leading up to her death.

      Nava is also facing other charges including kidnapping and possession of child pornography

     On Christmas Eve 2021, deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in the 600 block of McCloud Avenue in Thousand Oaks where they found 24-year-old Alisen Escobar been beaten to death.

     The authorities determined that she had been tortured prior to being killed and had suffered extensive injuries.

     Nava was arrested at the scene.

     Monday the first groups of potential jurors were brought to court, given a questionnaire to be filled out, and then told to return to court next week.

     That process will be repeated until the court believes they will have enough potential jurors to find enough to start the process of selecting 12 jurors and several alternates.

     Nava, the attorneys, and judge will be back in court Tuesday to repeat that process.

     Meanwhile, Nava remains in jail and is being held without bail.