Thousand Oaks man convicted for murdering his girlfriend
After nearly three years, Saul Nava, a Thousand Oaks resident, has been found guilty for torturing and murdering his girlfriend, Alisen Takacs-Escobar. Nava has also been found guilty for torturing and kidnapping his previous girlfriend, who survived the abuse, according to a news release from Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nararenko.
Nearly three years ago, between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24 of 2021, Takacs-Escobar was beaten and tortured in the proceeding of her death. While testifying on the trial, Nava declared that he was “punishing her” for allegedly cheating on him, wanting her to “feel the pain” he felt. Nava openly admitted that his inflicted torture was the cause of her death, although he claims that he did not have the intention of killing her. Takacs-Escobar was allegedly beaten on the majority of her body to the point where the injuries could not be counted as they had all blended together. Evidence during Nava’s trial presented that he struck her with a belt, hit her with a baseball bat, covered her in degrading tattoos and recorded pornographic videos. Nava tattooed his initials and full name on her body, along with six derogatory words on Takacs-Escobar chest. He testified that he had hoped to add positive words later to show her character growth. Nava also admitted to tattooing his initials and full name on his previous girlfriend.
Bartley Brown, the public defense attorney assigned to the case, stated in his testimony that it would not fit Nava’s pattern to intentionally kill the victim, as he desired to keep torturing her. Nava claimed that he offered the victim pain medications and cold and hot packs before giving her CPR. After calling the paramedics and saying, “I think my girlfriend died,” she was pronounced dead at the scene and Nava was arrested. Hours before her death a video was taken displaying evidence of Nava taunting and showing no concern for her worsening state. A medical examiner ruled that Takacs-Escobar died due to blunt force injuries, and listed the death as a homicide.
Nava is expected to serve up to 51 years and eight months in prison. However, he may have avoided a life sentence without the possibility of parole, based on the jury’s rejection of the allegation that he had intentions of killing his girlfriend. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all nine charges and denied all 31 special circumstances. The jury found that the special circumstance of intentional murder involving torture to be not true, but did not place verdicts for any other special circumstances. In order for a special circumstance to be true, Nava must have intended to kill Takacs Escobar and to torture her at the same time. Brown told the jury that Nava should be held accountable for all charges except the special circumstance of intentional murder. The sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. in the Ventura County Courthouse in room 48.
