Homicide Investigation
May 11, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that the Sheriff’s Major Crimes is conducting an 
investigation regarding two individuals found deceased in the area of Sunrise Trail and Autumn Trail.
On May 4, 2025, at approximately 6:52 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from a hiker stating that they had located what appeared to be skeletonized human remains. The remains were later confirmed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office to be two sets of human remains, a male and a female. After examination of the remains, the Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the individuals as Jose Luis Perez and Stephanie Elizabeth Perez and determined that both died of gunshot wounds of the head.
Name: Jose Luis Perez
Age: 64
City of residence: Simi Valley
Cause of death: Gunshot wound of the head
Manner of death: Suicide
Name: Stephanie Elizabeth Perez
Age: 65
City of residence: Simi Valley
Cause of death: Gunshot wound of the head
Manner of death: Homicide
This appears to be an isolated incident, as the subjects were known to one another and were both reported missing in July of 2024.
Investigators are actively working on the case and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective DeLaCerda at (805) 384-4724.
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Nature of Incident: |
Homicide Investigation |
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Report Number: |
25-54631 |
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Location: |
Sunrise Trail / Autumn Trail, Thousand Oaks |
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Date & Time: |
05/04/25 @ 6:52 PM |
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Unit(s) Responsible: |
Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, Thousand Oaks Police Department, Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Ventura County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency |
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(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent (D) Jose Luis Perez |
City of Residence
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Age
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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office