OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	1980 Homicide Suspect Arrested
DATE/TIME:	May 2, 2019, 3:27 p.m.
LOCATION:	Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility – 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura
VICTIM(S):	Leah Sarah Bullis
SUSPECT(S):	Lenard Len Chester (58 years old)
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Scott Aaron, (805) 385-7763 Scott.Aaron@OxnardPD.org
CONTACT PERSON AND  CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff Kay, (805) 385-8174 Jeff.Kay@OxnardPD.org

DETAILS: 

On May 2, 2019, 58-year-old, Lenard Len Chester, was arrested for the December 1980 murder of 81-year-old Oxnard resident Leah Sarah Bullis.

At approximately 12:20 PM on December 1, 1980, Oxnard Police Department officers responded to a call of an assault victim in the 1800 block of Coronado Place.  The victim, later identified as Leah Sarah Bullis, was found inside her home.  She was conscious but severely beaten. Ms. Bullis passed away in the ambulance while being transported to the hospital.  

Oxnard Police Department Major Crimes Detectives Jamie Skeeters and Donald Boger began the investigation with the assistance of crime scene investigators.   Due to their diligent efforts, several critical pieces of evidence were located and recovered.  The criminal investigation revealed that the suspect assaulted the victim while in her home.

During Bullis’ autopsy, evidence was collected. The medical examiner determined that Bullis died as a result of blunt force related bleeding. 

The case remained unsolved. In 2018, the Oxnard Police Department partnered with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office to conduct another review the Bullis case.  The evidence from this case was sent to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory for examination. 

In late 2018, the Ventura County Crime Lab uploaded the DNA sample to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) where it matched to a profile of a convicted offender. The convicted offender was identified as Lenard Len Chester. 

In 1982, Chester was sentenced to 44 years in prison for breaking into homes and sexually assaulting four different women. When Chester was paroled, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office conducted a civil hearing which resulted in Chester being listed as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP).  The court ordered Chester be placed on a civil hold and receive treatment at a state hospital. 

Investigators conducted exhaustive research and tracked down several witnesses in this case. This case is an example of how the passing of time, advances in forensic technology, and multiple law enforcement agency collaboration come together to further cold case homicides. 

On May 2, 2019, Chester was arrested for the rape and murder of Leah Sarah Bullis.  Chester is currently in the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.  Chester’s is being held at the Ventura County Jail without bail.

This teamwork, perseverance, determination, and unwavering drive for justice, ultimately culminated in the Ventura County District Attorney filing the charge of murder and rape against Lenard Len Chester for the homicide.

This case is continuing to evolve and investigators are examining other similar cases from that time period to see if Chester is a possible suspect.

Additional information on Oxnard Police Department’s Unsolved Cold Cases can be found at ColdCase.OxnardPD.org website.             

Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Jeff Kay at (805) 385-8174 or coldcase@oxnardpd.org.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity.  You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.

 Lenard Len Chester

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  May 2, 2019, 5:15 p.m.