In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through the community, a California man has been found guilty of the brutal murder of his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
The victim, Alisen Takacs-Escobar, was discovered in her apartment, bearing the marks of torture and disturbing tattoos of derogatory words.
The apartment she shared with Saul C. Nava, 24, became a crime scene on December 24, 2021, as reported by Fox News. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office confirmed Nava's conviction on Tuesday, which included nine felony counts. These charges encompassed first-degree murder, torture, kidnapping, aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of child pornography, and inflicting corporal injury on a current or former cohabitant.
The authorities were alerted to the horrific scene in Thousand Oaks, California, when Nava himself dialed 911, requesting medical assistance. Upon their arrival, first responders were met with a gruesome sight. Takacs-Escobar was found dead, her body marred with injuries. "She suffered from extensive bruising, the top of her head had a large laceration and degrading words were newly tattooed on the center of her chest," the district attorney's office revealed.
Nava was apprehended at the scene. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a tattoo kit, baseball bats, a hammer, and a screwdriver. The district attorney's office stated that Nava used these tools to inflict days of torment on his girlfriend.
Adding to the horror, authorities found videos on Nava's phone, taken mere hours before Takacs-Escobar's death. These videos depicted Nava "taunting her and displaying no concern for her worsening condition." Further investigation unveiled a pattern of abuse, with Nava having previously tortured former girlfriends. One recounted being "confined to a closet" and repeatedly beaten. "At one point, she tried to run away, but Nava found her and threatened her with a knife until she got into his vehicle," the district attorney's office disclosed.
Another ex-girlfriend, who became pregnant at 17, was allegedly coerced into having an abortion by Nava. "She was punched in the face, choked and secretly filmed having sex with Nava," the district attorney's office added. "The abuse finally stopped when Nava started dating Ms. Takacs-Escobar during the summer of 2021."
The sentencing date for Nava remains undisclosed. Senior Deputy District Attorney David Russell expressed hope that the conviction would bring some solace to the victims and their families. "Although this result cannot erase the immeasurable pain the defendant inflicted on the victims and their families, we hope that this brings some measure of closure to see him held accountable for his horrific crimes," he said.
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