Sheriff’s Major Crimes is conducting an investigation regarding two individuals found deceased in the area of Sunrise Trail and Autumn Trail.
On May 4, 2025, at approximately 6:52 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from a hiker stating that they had located what appeared to be skeletonized human remains. The remains were later confirmed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office to be two sets of human remains, a male and a female.
After examination of the remains, the Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the individuals as Jose Luis Perez and Stephanie Elizabeth Perez and determined that both died of gunshot wounds of the head.
Name: Jose Luis Perez
Age: 64
City of residence: Simi Valley
Cause of death: Gunshot wound of the head
Manner of death: Suicide
Name: Stephanie Elizabeth Perez
Age: 65
City of residence: Simi Valley
Cause of death: Gunshot wound of the head
Manner of death: Homicide
This appears to be an isolated incident, as the subjects were known to one another and were both reported missing in July of 2024.
Investigators are actively working on the case and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective DeLaCerda at (805)384-4724
Investigation launched after remains found on Thousand Oaks trail identified as missing Simi Valley couple.
www.vcstar.com
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The Ventura County Sheriff's Office launched a homicide investigation into the
human remains found near a Thousand Oaks hiking trail this week.
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The couple both died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to sheriff's officials. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Jose Luis' death a suicide while Stephanie Elizabeth's death was ruled a homicide, officials said.