The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has reported a breakthrough in a recent homicide case with the arrest of suspect Christian Hillairet, 24, of Santa Paula. Hillairet is accused of the murder of Carolyn NinoDeRivera, found dead in her Santa Paula residence on May 31. According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, dispatchers received calls around 9:09 p.m. that night, alerting them to a possible murder at a home on the 12000 block of Sisar Road.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered NinoDeRivera deceased, establishing the case as a homicide. The Major Crimes Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office took charge of the investigation and pinpointed Hillairet as a person of interest. Early the next morning, further investigations revealed that Hillairet had fled across the border into Mexico, captured by authorities in Rosarito on June 2. In coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service, Hillairet was repatriated and subsequently taken into custody.
The cross-border effort culminated on June 4, with Mexican authorities handing over Hillairet at the San Ysidro crossing. Venture County investigators and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent were on-site to receive the suspect, as stated in the sheriff’s office release. Hillairet is now facing charges for NinoDeRivera's murder, booked on the suspicion of violating California Penal Code Section 187(a).
The following day, the suspect was officially booked in Ventura County, after transported back from the border crossing. Detective Michael Marco prepared the statement, released on June 5, offering the latest developments in this case. In the announcement obtained by SFist, Captain Rob Yoos is the media contact for follow-ups. Ventura County Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and a criminal complaint against the one responsible, remaining callers may choose to stay anonymous, and the calls are not recorded, as per their policy.
