From left: Margarita Jimenez and Jorge Garfias (Ventura County District Attorney) and Yanelly Vargas (Camino Del Sol Funeral Home).
A California couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for the murder of a man’s former girlfriend, whom they lured from a bar on St. Patrick’s Day last year before fatally shooting her.
Margarita Jimenez, 34, received an 80 years to life sentence, while Jorge Garfias, 38, has been sentenced to 25 years to life for their roles in the death of Yanelly Vargas. This sentencing follows their conviction for first-degree murder, as reported by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
On March 17, 2024, police in Oxnard, approximately 60 miles from Los Angeles, responded to a report of a fight between a man and a woman at a local nightclub just before midnight. During the ensuing 911 call, gunshots were heard. Officers arrived to find 35-year-old Vargas with a gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
During the sentencing hearing held on Tuesday, Vargas’ family delivered emotional victim impact statements.
“You stole Yanelly’s life from us,” expressed Sonia Correa, a relative, as reported by the Ventura County Star. “You took a mother, friend, sister, and woman of strength and compassion, leaving a void that will never be filled.”
Yanelly Vargas was a devoted mother of five and cherished spending time cooking with her family.
“She was the one who gave me life, and yet she was taken away far too soon,” her daughter Citlali Correa reportedly told the court.
Added Vargas’ mother Irene Sandoval: “I lost someone truly special. I lost my everything. There’s a hole in my heart that will never be filled.”
Jimenez reportedly said she had “no excuse” and had “no right” to murder Vargas. She says she prays for the victim’s children every day.
Judge Catherine Voelker was quick to admonish Jimenez.
“You get to talk to your children every day,” Voelker said, per the Star. “You stole that from Ms. Vargas.”
While Garfias did not pull the trigger, he still bears a huge responsibility for her death, the judge pointed out.
“But for Mr. Garfias’ active participation in the murder, I have no doubt that Ms. Vargas would still be alive,” Voelker reportedly said.
As Law&Crime previously reported, the tragic set of events were sparked when Garfias received a phone call from the 35-year-old Vargas as he and Jimenez watched TV.
Jimenez testified at trial that she heard a female’s voice on the other line and confronted Garfias about who he was speaking with, the Star reported. Garfias admitted it was Vargas. Jimenez testified she was “tired of the drama.” She said she felt as if Garfias and Vargas were rekindling their relationship.
“I felt anger, I felt betrayed, I felt lied to,” Jimenez testified.
Garfias and Jimenez drove to the nightclub and lured her to his truck via text. They drove Vargas to an alley in an industrial area where an argument turned physical and the suspects beat the victim, prosecutors said. Vargas got out of the truck and tried to run away but the suspects followed her in Garfias’ truck.
Jimenez confronted Vargas.
“I was sad, mad,” Jimenez said. “I was hostile with her.”
Surveillance video showed Jimenez exit the truck, run after Vargas and shoot her dead in the chest. She tried to blast her again but the gun jammed, prosecutors said. Neighbors called 911 when they saw a man and a woman arguing and dispatchers heard the gunshot. Cops rushed to the scene and found Vargas dead. In addition to the gunshot wound, she also suffered from blunt force trauma and signs of strangulation.
Investigators found a blood trail, a spent 9 mm shell casing and acrylic nails that were later tied to Jimenez. There was also a blood-stained yellow rope near the victim, prosecutors said.
Cops arrested the suspects about two weeks after the murder.
