Los Angeles, Ca
Man charged with murder for allegedly stabbing girlfriend in front of her children
A Simi Valley man has been charged with killing his girlfriend, who authorities say was stabbed to death in front of her own children.
Ramon Joseph Rivas, 34, was charged with murder and two counts of child endangerment, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.
Rivas is accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Tinoco, last week during a domestic dispute at her home in Simi Valley.
Tinoco, who loved ones said was a mother to five children, was stabbed multiple times in the front of her home in front of several of her children. The children, authorities said, had fled to the front of the home and called 911 after Rivas arrived and allegedly began attacking their mother.
Officers from the Simi Valley Police Department arrived on scene and arrested Rivas without incident.
As they entered the home, they found Tinoco suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead from her injuries.
Rivas made his first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday, and his arraignment was continued to Oct. 30.
He currently remains in custody without bail.
On Monday, more than 100 people attended a vigil to remember Tinoco, who they said had a “pure soul,” and whose biggest flaw was that she cared too much about those who did not deserve her affection.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office encourages anyone who is a victim or survivor of domestic violence who is need of help to connect with a victim advocate at the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura.
Requests for service can be made in person, by email, call or text. Details can be found here.
About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
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