Ventura Murder Fugitive Sentenced to 25 Years to Life Nearly Three Decades After Killing

VENTURA — November 7, 2026. Manuel Alejandro Vasquez was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for the 1998 murder of Felipe Arambula, according to a November 2 announcement from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

A case dating back to 1998

Arambula was killed in his Ventura home on June 13, 1998. Investigators identified Vasquez and two other men as involved in the case. The other defendants were convicted in 1999, while Vasquez fled to Mexico before charges were filed against him.

Arrest and return to court

Authorities located and apprehended Vasquez in 2023, and he was extradited to Ventura County in April 2025. On September 30, 2026, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The later prison term therefore followed a guilty plea, not a pending accusation.

Why the outcome matters

Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick credited Ventura Police investigators and acknowledged the prolonged wait endured by Arambula’s family. The announcement documents a final sentencing stage in a decades-old case, although future legal appeals are separately governed. California58 is avoiding unnecessary graphic details about the homicide and focusing on the verified proceedings.

Source: Ventura County District Attorney official release, November 2026.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Ventura News grow Help strengthen reporting on Ventura: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Ventura News

Choose how to support Ventura News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Ventura News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Ventura News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.