Body Found in Ditch Identified
Oxnard police on Tuesday identified the body of a woman who was found Dec. 22 in a drainage ditch where Arnold Road dead-ends at the coast.
Ruth Elouise Avril, 73, of Oxnard had been bludgeoned and strangled and dumped in the Oxnard ditch. Her body was found at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 22 by two surfers who were on their way to a remote beach at the northern edge of the Point Mugu naval base.
Oxnard detectives identified Avril after receiving a missing-person report New Year’s Day, said Sgt. Cliff Troy.
When Officer Steve Funk responded to the south Oxnard residence of the reported missing person, he discovered that the home had been burglarized and noticed a portrait that matched the victim. The portrait also pictured some jewelry that was similar to that recovered from the body, Troy said.
Although the home had been burglarized, there were no signs of a struggle or assault at the house, Troy said.
One of Avril’s relatives from Northern California was contacted, and on Tuesday the relative identified the body, Troy said.
Oxnard detectives have no motive for Avril’s death.
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