Los Angeles, Ca
Southern California man sentenced to prison for torturing, murdering girlfriend
A Ventura County man was sentenced to prison Wednesday for torturing and murdering his girlfriend.
Saul Nava, 24, of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 50 years and 8 months to life in prison for the murder of Alisen Takacs-Escobar, and the torture and kidnapping of a previous girlfriend who survived his abuse, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
On Christmas Eve in 2021, Nava called authorities after several days of beating and torturing Takacs-Escobar in an apartment they shared in Thousand Oaks.
Arriving officers found the woman with injuries all over her body including extensive bruising, a large laceration on her head, and “degrading words” that were freshly tattooed on her chest.
Nava was taken into custody at the scene.
Inside the apartment, authorities found baseball bats, a hammer, a screwdriver and tattoo equipment that were all used on Takacs-Escobar.
On the suspect’s cell phone, deputies found videos that were taken just hours before the woman’s death that show Nava “taunting her and displaying no concern for her worsening condition,” court documents said.
While investigating the murder, detectives identified an ex-girlfriend who had survived Nava’s abuse. Nava initially met the second victim when they were both teenagers.
He then brought her into his home, confined her to a closet and assaulted her, investigators said. At one point, she tried to run away but Nava found her and threatened her with a knife until she got into his car.
The victim was impregnated by Nava when she was 17. Deputies said Nava punched her in the stomach and convinced her to get an abortion.
He also punched her in the face, choked her and secretly filmed her having sex with him, authorities said. The abuse only ended in the summer of 2021 when Nava started dating Takacs-Escobar.
On Oct. 15, Nava was convicted by a jury of:
- First-degree murder
- Torture
- Kidnapping
- Aggravated mayhem
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Possession of child pornography
- Three counts of inflicting corporal injury to current or former cohabitant/spouse
Special allegations he was also convicted of include:
- The crime involved great violence
- Victim was vulnerable
- The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, or professionalism
- Defendant has engaged in violent conduct
- Defendant was armed with and used a weapon
“The sentence imposed reflects the heinous nature of the defendant’s horrific conduct,” said David Russell, a senior deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case. “While nothing will make the victim’s family whole again, this sentence will protect the community from an offender who tortured and abused vulnerable victims.”
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
Los Angeles, Ca
NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire
The northbound 405 Freeway will remain closed for several hours near Los Angeles International Airport after a police pursuit ended with officers opening fire Friday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicated the incident began with a robbery at a 7-Eleven store, which ended with Los Angeles Police Department officers pursuing the suspect in a Kia. The chase […]
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