Oxnard couple convicted of murdering Yanelly Vargas after luring her outside bar
Christer Schmidt
OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – A jury on Friday convicted 34-year-old Margarita Jimenez of Oxnard and 39-year-old Jorge Garfias of the first-degree murder of Yanelly Vargas.
According to the Ventura County Star, the jury reached its verdict after six hours of deliberation.
Jurors also found true the special allegation that Jimenez personally and intentionally discharged a firearm. The couple, however, was found not guilty of kidnapping Vargas.
A court trial on additional special allegations and aggravating factors is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.
According to the Oxnard Police Department, just before midnight on March 17, 2024, officers responded to reports of a fight between a man and a woman outside a business near East Wooley Road and Industrial Avenue. During the 911 call, a gunshot was heard.
When officers arrived, they found 30-year-old Vargas unresponsive with a gunshot wound. She was transported to Ventura County Medical Center, where she later died.
Investigators said Vargas had been lured outside an Oxnard bar by a text message sent by her ex-boyfriend, Garfias. They allege Garfias and Jimenez then took Vargas to a nearby industrial alley and began beating her.
As Vargas tried to walk away, investigators said the couple followed in Garfias’ truck. Surveillance footage captured Jimenez exiting the truck with a handgun and running after Vargas.
According to investigators, Jimenez shot Vargas once in the chest and attempted to fire a second time before fleeing with Garfias in the truck.
At the scene, detectives recovered a blood trail, a spent 9mm casing, and acrylic nails later matched to Jimenez. A blood-stained yellow rope was also found near the victim.
An autopsy confirmed Vargas died from a gunshot wound to the chest and had also suffered blunt force injuries and signs of strangulation.
Jimenez and Garfias remain in custody.