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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Tuesday March 19th, 2024 :: 10:36 a.m. PDT

Community

Cold Case Homicide Investigation Media Release

Nature of Incident: Cold Case Homicide Investigation
Report Number: 88-27007
Location: 1000 block of Box Canyon Road, Simi Valley
Date & Time: April 16th, 1988 @ 12:44 P.M.
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau / Cold Case Unit
 
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

City of Residence

Age
(V) Richard Smith
 
 
 
 
Simi Valley
 
43
Narrative:
 
Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit Investigators have re-opened a cold homicide case from 1988.  
 
On 04/16/1988, at 12:44 P.M, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1000 block of Box Canyon Road, in the unincorporated area of Simi Valley, after a male subject was found deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.  The decedent was identified as Richard Smith, who was living in a trailer near the location where he was found deceased.  This area is remote and not many people knew where Richard lived.  Richard was 43 years of age at the time of his death.  Investigators from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau initially investigated this case in 1988, until all leads were exhausted, and the case became cold.
 
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit have recently re-opened this case after re-examining evidence and are asking the public for assistance.  Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Investigator Carlos Macias at (805) 384-4734, or email him at [email protected]       
  
Prepared by: Sergeant Albert Ramirez  
News Release Date: March 19th, 2024  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Albert Ramirez
(805) 384-4761
[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).   
 
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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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