Full Notification

Wanted for Question in Death of Woman on Freeway; Woman Identified

Sylmar.  Detectives are asking the public’s help in locating 26-year-old Ricardo “Rick” Jimenez, whom detectives believe was driving the red car on the 210 Freeway, August 29, 2013, when 22-year-old Maria Josefina “Josie” Jimenez (no relation) inexplicably came out the passenger door onto the freeway and was killed by on-coming traffic.

“We have multiple sources who have come forward, putting Rick and Josie (her preferred name) at a local tattoo parlor before midnight, with Rick causing a disturbance and berating Josie in front of others,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “We know Rick was driving Josie’s red Toyota Corolla when the two left the parlor.”

Josie’s best girlfriend had come to the tattoo parlor with Rick and Josie, but left when the abuse by Rick became so blatant.  Detectives pieced this fact together when a resident near the tattoo parlor came to the police station to report a woman had come to her front door around midnight, asking for a ride to downtown.  Josie’s girlfriend confirmed that was she who had approached the house, out of desperation to get away from Rick and his abuse of her friend.

Detectives have also eliminated Josie’s legal husband from any involvement in her death.  While the two are married, they are estranged, and the husband had come to police to report her missing.  Jimenez is Josie’s maiden name, but she has no familial relationship to Rick, though the two had been carrying on a very public affair.

“Rick knows we want to talk to him over what happened,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “His avoidance raises allot of questions for us.”  Rick Jimenez is 5’10” tall, and has several tattoos, include HUSTLER tattooed on his neck and WEST COAST on his right forearm.

Detectives believe Rick has abandoned Josie’s red Toyota somewhere, and they have put a want on the car, license 6NED426.  Meanwhile, Rick is believed to be driving a black, 2-door Honda Civic with chromed rims, license 6RJG807.  Rick is lives on Kraft Street in North Hollywood and is believed to be in the Los Angeles area. 

Josie’s family helped the coroner to identify her body through tattoos.  Josie lived in the Westlake area, near MacArthur Park.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Gretchen Schultz, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9951.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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