According to Santa Paula Police Department Sergeant Ish Cordero, one homicide victim who passed away last year was stabbed and beaten in the 200 block of South 10th Street in “approximately 1978.... Because of the severity of the injuries the victim was sent to a convalescent home,” where he remained until he died in 2008.“The coroner ruled it a homicide,” he added, and there was no evidence to pursue a suspect. The case remains unsolved.The second death ruled a 2008 homicide by the Medical Examiner’s Office involved a case of mutual combat that left one person with severe injuries, an incident that occurred about a decade ago. “Again, the victim sustained some injuries that contributed to his death. Back then the incident was ruled as a mutual combat; who knew this was going to happen?”Cordero said witnesses to the mutual combat gave conflicting information, and charges were not pursued. “It’s sad that years later a person passes away because of the injuries they sustained,” but Cordero said “Just because the coroner rules a homicide, it doesn’t mean the SPPD or the District Attorney’s Office are going to pursue” criminal charges.Though the number of county homicides increased in 2008, it remained below the county’s average since 1974; the 35-year average is 32.9. The number of countywide homicides reached 59 in 1974 and 1989. The most recent high-end number was 49 in 2003. The 2008 homicide rate per 100,000 residents for all local areas remained below the 2007 national average for cities of their size.Anyone with information pertaining to the Duran homicide is urged to call Detective Wally Boggess at 525-4474 x119, or Sergeant Cordero at 525-4474 x117. If a caller would prefer to remain anonymous, they can call the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline, 933-4253-1-#.Those with information can also call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. Callers remain anonymous and can collect a $1,000 reward if information offered results in an arrest/conviction.
2008: Rise in county homicides overall, SP rate includes past victims
January 28, 2009
Santa Paula News
A rise in countywide gang violence is suspected in the number of homicides that occurred in 2008, but the total for Santa Paula was inflated due to the death of two men who were victims of past violence, including one man who passed away about 30 years after being attacked.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA rise in countywide gang violence is suspected in the number of homicides that occurred in 2008, but the total for Santa Paula was inflated due to the death of two men who were victims of past violence, including one man who passed away about 30 years after being attacked.Homicides in Ventura County were at record low in 2007, when there were 19 reported. There were 32 homicides in 2008, still slightly below the county’s 35-year average, according to data collected by the Ventura County Medical Examiner Coroner’s Office. The 2007 total was the lowest since 1974, the year the coroner’s office began keeping track of countywide homicides.Oxnard, the county’s largest city, which started 2009 with numerous murders, had the most homicides in 2008 with 13. Simi Valley had the second most with four. Camarillo and Santa Paula each had three homicides, while El Rio, Ventura and Port Hueneme had two each. Moorpark, Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks had one each.Law enforcement has identified suspects in less than half the homicides.The only homicide that occurred in Santa Paula was the murder of a popular Renaissance High School student. Ismael Duran, 16, was gunned down October 13 shortly after 10 p.m. while standing in front of a home with friends on South 12th Street. A lone gunman walked up to the group and opened fire, striking Duran once in the upper chest.The killing of Duran was the first homicide in the city in almost two years. The two other homicides in Santa Paula involved people who died in 2008 from injuries sustained in incidents that occurred in prior years, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
