Homicide Investigation 

March 3, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on February 28, 2025, at approximately 4:09 P.M., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from a reporting party stating a female had been located inside her garage, unresponsive.

Deputies from the Ojai Patrol Station responded and located the female deceased. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and located evidence of trauma to the female. Based on evidence at the scene, detectives determined a homicide occurred.

Detectives were able to identify (S) Ricardo Ortega as the suspect. The investigation revealed that Ortega and the victim were known to each other. Ortega was arrested on March 01, 2025, in the city of Oxnard, by members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Ortega was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for 1 count of PC 187(a) - Murder.

This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Gerardo Cruz at (805) 384-4726 or Detective Erik Hernandez at (805) 384-4729.

Nature of Incident:	Homicide Investigation
Report Number:	25-25760
Location:	500 Block of La Luna Avenue Meiners Oaks, CA 93023
Date & Time:	February 28, 2025 @ 4:09 PM
Unit(s) Responsible:	Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau Ojai Patrol Ojai Station Detectives Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigations Unit Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Bureau Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force Ventura County Gun Violence Reduction Program West County Special Enforcement Unit Ventura County High Tech Task Force Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Technical Surveillance Unit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Crime Analysis Unit Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent		City of Residence
(V) Adult female (S) Ricardo Ortega		Meiners Oaks Oxnard

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office