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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Wednesday November 30th, 2022 :: 02:57 p.m. PST

Community

News Story - Death Investigation

Nature of Incident: Death Investigation
Report Number: 22-158734
Location: 1200-block of Cruzero Street in the unincorporated area of Ojai
Date & Time: 11/29/2022 @ 4:16 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, Ojai Patrol, Ojai Detective Bureau, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Advanced Real Time Information Center
 
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

City of Residence

Age
(D) Hal Friedberg
(D) Lisa Phelps
 
Ojai
Ojai
68
58
Narrative:
On 11/29/2022, at approximately 4:16 PM, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a telephone call from a male who requested deputies respond to a residence in the 1200-block of Cruzero Street. The caller requested a wellness check on his family members, (D) Hal Friedberg and (D) Lisa Phelps, after receiving a concerning letter from them.
 
Deputies assigned to the Ojai Police Department responded and located one deceased male and one deceased female at the location. The two decedents were identified as a married couple associated with the residence.
 
Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau and the Ojai Police Department responded to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the property. An investigator from the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and, in coordination with detectives, completed a scene investigation. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
 
Detectives do not believe there are any outstanding suspects relating to the deaths. The cause and manner of the deaths will be determined by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is ongoing.
 
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detective Meagan Yates at (805) 384-4731 or email, [email protected]. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Prepared by: Detective Meagan Yates  
News Release Date: November 30, 2022  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Meagan Yates
805-384-4731
[email protected]
 
 
Approved by:
 
 
Booking Photo Release:
Captain Victor Medina
 
 
YES     NO  
 
           
 
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
 

Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

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