OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Grandmother of Deceased 3-year old Kimberly Lopez Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
DATE/TIME:	July 23, 2018 / 8:15 a.m.
LOCATION:	1000 block South Ventura Road, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	Kimberly Lopez, 3-years old, Oxnard Resident
SUSPECT(S):	Maria De Jesus Lopez, 44 years old, Oxnard Resident
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Scott Aaron (805) 385-7763 scott.aaron@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON AND  CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff Kay (805) 385-7763 jeff.kay@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS:

(OXNARD, Calif) – After over a year and a half long investigation, detectives with the Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit have made an additional arrest in the death of 3-year old Kimberly Lopez. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has filed conspiracy charges against Kimberly’s grandmother, Maria De Jesus Lopez.

The official police investigation started on September 7, 2016. At that time, officials from Ventura County Children and Family Services (VCCFS) notified the Oxnard Police Department that 3-year old Kimberly Lopez was missing. Kimberly was last seen by a VCCFS social worker in the custody of her father, Omar Lopez. Guardianship was given to Omar after he completed the required classes to become Kimberly’s legal guardian. Mayra Chavez was granted supervised home visits with Kimberly. The visits were to be supervised by Omar and Maria De Jesus Lopez, Mayra’s mother. Kimberly was last seen on March 10, 2015 during a home visit by a VCCFS social worker.

In July of 2016, VCCFS social workers received information concerning the well-being of Kimberly. Social workers made several home visits in an attempt to check on Kimberly. However, Omar and Mayra provided social workers with unverified information that Kimberly was living with relatives in Mexico. After numerous home visits, neither Omar nor Mayra were able to provide verifiable documentation or proof that Kimberly was living with relatives in Mexico. VCCFS notified the Oxnard Police Department on September 7, 2016, that Kimberly was missing. A missing person report was filed, and detectives immediately began investigating the whereabouts of Kimberly.

Also in September of 2016, VCCFS initiated a new juvenile dependency case on Kimberly, and the Ventura County Juvenile Court issued an order to take Kimberly back into protective custody once she was located.

The Oxnard Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Family Protection Unit, along with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) all worked diligently in an attempt to locate missing 3-year old Kimberly Lopez. Detectives interviewed family members, friends and associates of Mayra and Omar who expressed their concern for Kimberly’s disappearance. Detectives also conducted extensive and detailed interviews with Mayra Chavez, Omar Lopez, and Maria De Jesus Lopez. Detectives believed that Mayra and Omar were the key to finding Kimberly and that Maria Lopez likely had information as to her whereabouts.

During the police investigation and search for Kimberly, Mayra and Omar were in custody on civil arrest warrants for failing to provide accurate information on the whereabouts of Kimberly.

During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to gather sufficient evidence and information to believe that Kimberly Lopez was deceased and that Mayra Chavez and Omar Lopez were responsible for her death. Detectives believe Kimberly was placed in a situation that resulted in her death while in the care and custody of Mayra and Omar.  Additionally detectives were able to gather evidence that shows Maria De Jesus Lopez had knowledge of Kimberly’s death, but assisted the parents with concealing that fact.

Detectives, working closely with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, submitted police reports and other items of evidence for review. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office examined all the information obtained during the extensive police investigation. Maria De Jesus Lopez was officially charged with Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, California Penal Code section 182(a)(1).

Maria De Jesus Lopez is currently in custody at the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $200,000.

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  July 23, 2018 / 10:00 a.m.