A Simi Valley man is now facing murder charges after the stabbing death of his girlfriend, in a grim case that has also shed light on the issue of domestic violence within the community. Ramon Joseph Rivas, 34, has been charged with the murder of Jessica Marie Tinoco, alongside accusations of child endangerment, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, as KTLA reports.
During a dispute on September 27, Rivas allegedly stabbed Tinoco multiple times at her residence in front of several of her children, who were present during the incident and subsequently called 911 in a frantic plea for help, while Tinoco was later pronounced dead at Los Robles Hospital from her injuries. Rivas was taken into custody without incident by officers from the Simi Valley Police Department. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, is prosecuting the case, as detailed in the official press release.
Rivas’s arraignment has been set for October 30 after his initial court appearance, and he remains in custody with no bail option. The case has prompted a local and broader discussion about domestic violence, with October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In this vein, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office is urging victims or survivors to seek help and connect with a victim advocate at the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura.
In the days since the incident, the community has shown an outpouring of support, with over 100 people attending a vigil for Tinoco. The district attorney's office has made its resources for assistance available in various forms, ensuring that those in need of support can reach out in person, by email, call, or text, as noted by KTLA.
