A California man and woman are facing prison after a jury found them guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend, whom they lured out of a bar and shot to death on St. Patrick’s Day last year. Margarita Jimenez, 34, and Jorge Garfias, 38, were convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 35-year-old Yanelly Vargas, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.
The incident occurred on March 17, 2024, when Garfias received a phone call from Vargas while he and Jimenez were watching television at home in Oxnard, approximately 60 miles west of Los Angeles. Jimenez heard a female voice on the line and confronted Garfias about who he was speaking with. Garfias admitted it was Vargas, his ex-girlfriend.
According to court testimony, Jimenez said she was “tired of the drama” and felt that Garfias and Vargas were attempting to rekindle their relationship. “I felt anger, I felt betrayed, I felt lied to,” Jimenez testified.
Following the confrontation, Garfias and Jimenez drove to the nightclub and used text messages to lure Vargas to Garfias’ truck. Prosecutors said the trio drove to an alley in an industrial area, where an argument escalated into physical violence. Vargas tried to escape, but the suspects pursued her in the truck.
“I was sad, mad,” Jimenez admitted. “I was hostile to her.” Surveillance footage showed Jimenez exiting the vehicle, chasing Vargas, and shooting her in the chest. She attempted to fire a second time, but the gun jammed. Neighbors reported hearing the altercation and a gunshot to 911.
When police arrived, Vargas was found dead, suffering not only a gunshot wound but also blunt force trauma and signs of strangulation. Investigators recovered a blood trail, a spent 9 mm shell casing, and acrylic nails linked to Jimenez. A blood-stained yellow rope was also found near the body.
Jimenez and Garfias were arrested roughly two weeks after the murder. Authorities confirmed that a trial addressing special allegations and aggravating factors is scheduled to begin Monday.
The case has drawn attention for its brutality and the deliberate planning involved. Prosecutors emphasized that the couple’s actions were premeditated, beginning with luring Vargas from the nightclub and culminating in a fatal confrontation.