Ventura Woman Sentenced For Murdering Homeless Woman

Tuesday March 28, 2023

(Sandra Dillard)

     Updated--The Ventura woman who had earlier pleaded guilty to the First Degree Murder of a homeless woman in a homeless camp near the Olive Street on ramp to the Northbound 33 Freeway in west Ventura has been sentenced to 32-years-to-life in prison.

     41-year-old Sandra June Dillard had also admitted a special allegation of having a prior serious conviction and she had also pleaded guilty to Grand Theft of a Firearm and Felony Battery on a Peace Officer in separate cases.

     The body of 32-year-old Kelsey Ann Dillon, formerly of Thousand Oaks, was found in the camp on September 24, 2021.

     She died from blunt force and sharp force injuries two days before she was found.

     Dillion's family members spoke at Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

     Because it happened next to the freeway on ramp, the CHP led the investigation with help from the Ventura County Sheriff's Crime Lab, Ventura PD, and the DA's Office.

     Almost exactly a year after the killing, Dillard was arrested on a murder charge while already in the Ventura County Jail in connection with several other open cases, including the felony battery on a peace officer.