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OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT:
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Parents of Missing 3-year old Kimberly Lopez Arrested for Murder
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| DATE:
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February 14, 2018
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| LOCATION:
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Ventura County Superior Court
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| VICTIM(S):
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Kimberly Lopez, 3-years old, Oxnard Resident
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| SUSPECT(S):
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Mayra Alejandra Chavez, 26-years old, Oxnard Resident
Omar Misael Lopez, 33-years old, Oxnard Resident
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| PREPARED BY:
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Sergeant Alex Arnett (805) 385-7763
alex.arnett@oxnardpd.org
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| CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO:
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Sergeant Alex Arnett (805) 385-7763
alex.arnett@oxnardpd.org
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DETAILS:
(OXNARD, Calif) – After nearly a year and a half long investigation, detectives with the Oxnard Police Department announce that arrests were made in the disappearance of 3-year old Kimberly Lopez. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has filed murder charges against Kimberly’s parents, Mayra Alejandra Chavez and Omar Misael 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 guardian, Omar Lopez. Guardianship was given to Omar after he completed the required classes to become the guardian of Kimberly. Mayra Chavez was granted supervised home visits with Kimberly. The visits were to be supervised by Omar and Maria Lopez, Mayra’s mother. The last reported sighting of Kimberly was during a home visit by a VCCFS social worker on March 10, 2015.
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 and unaccounted for. 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 and Omar Lopez. Detectives believed that Mayra and Omar were the key to finding Kimberly.
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.
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. On February 14, 2018, Mayra Chavez was officially charged with murder (187 P.C.), child endangerment resulting in death (273ab (a) P.C.), and torture (206 P.C.). Omar Lopez was charged with murder (187 P.C.) and child endangerment (273a (a) P.C.). If convicted of all charges, Mayra could face a maximum of 47 years to life in prison. Omar could face a maximum of 42 years to life in prison. Mayra and Omar, who were still in custody on the civil arrest warrants and perjury charges, were arrested at Ventura County Jail.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: February 14, 2018 at approximately 8:00 a.m.
Mayra Alejandra Chavez
Omar Misael Lopez
Kimberly Lopez