A woman walking to work along Galena Avenue in Simi Valley just after 4 a.m. on September 21, 2017, was attacked by a group of men wearing masks resembling the Ghostface character from the horror film Scream, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. Nearly nine years later, authorities have announced an arrest in the case, charging a 39-year-old man they say was one of the attackers.
Prosecutors allege Ricardo Jimenez-Garcia and several other men assaulted the woman while wearing the masks and using a knife, as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. The suspects fled after the attack, and the woman called 911, the station reports. Simi Valley Police Department officers responded to the scene and opened an investigation, but the case eventually went cold after detectives exhausted their leads.
Ventura County District Attorney's Office investigators identified Jimenez-Garcia as a suspect this year, and he was arrested on September 9, 2026. DC News Now reports that prosecutors have since charged him in connection with the attack, though authorities have not disclosed the evidence that identified him or what prompted the breakthrough in the long-dormant case.
What Remains Undisclosed
Friday's announcement did not detail the specific charges filed against Jimenez-Garcia. The exact charges were not disclosed, according to the DA's office, per ABC7's reporting. Officials also did not provide information about the woman's injuries or whether she knew any of the alleged attackers.
There is some discrepancy in how outlets have reported Jimenez-Garcia's age: ABC7 Los Angeles lists him as 39, while NBC Los Angeles reported him as 38 in its 2026 coverage of the 2017 attack. Authorities have not publicly identified the other men who took part in the group attack, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles, which also reports that renewed efforts by DA's office investigators led directly to Jimenez-Garcia's arrest.
Investigators Still Searching for Answers
Authorities released new photos of Jimenez-Garcia in hopes that someone might recognize him and come forward with information, according to ABC7's reporting. Investigators are also seeking public help identifying the other men involved and are asking whether there may be additional victims of similar incidents, since authorities believe Jimenez-Garcia and his co-conspirators may have other victims, per NBC Los Angeles.
Authorities have urged witnesses, anyone who recognizes Jimenez-Garcia, or possible victims of similar attacks to contact District Attorney investigator Yumi Kirk at 805-477-1638. The case remains an active investigation nearly a decade after the original attack left a cold case trail that only recently produced a name and an arrest.
