Reward Offered for Information About Fatal Beating at Party

A lack of witness cooperation in the case of a Ventura man beaten to death at a Meiners Oaks party last year has prompted frustrated authorities to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“We know there are people out there who know what happened but are reluctant to come forward,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Bill Montijo. “But after a year, we have rumors, we have innuendoes, but we don’t have anyone who has come forward to identify the people involved in this beating. We need someone who has the gumption to come forward and right a wrong.”

Ventura County sheriff’s investigators announced the reward offer Thursday, just days after the one-year anniversary of James Dowey’s death.

Dowey was fatally injured during a party on St. Thomas Drive in Meiners Oaks on Sept. 12, 1997. Witnesses told authorities someone hit Dowey in the head with a baseball bat or club.

Dowey died at a hospital the next day.

Deputies called to the scene found a bloody Dowey staggering out of the party.

Some witnesses have alleged that deputies then struggled with Dowey, spraying him with pepper spray and striking him in the head with a metal flashlight. Other witnesses, however, countered that story and praised the way deputies handled the incident.

No authorities have ever been disciplined in the case, though Dowey’s family has filed a lawsuit against the department.

Investigators said they have conducted more than 100 interviews, but don’t have enough information to make an arrest. Authorities said about 300 people attended the party.

Someone, they reason, must have seen what happened and isn’t talking.

“We know people don’t want to be labeled a snitch,” Montijo said. “But it takes a very strong person to come forward and break that kind of code of silence. And that’s what we need.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sheriff’s Sgt. Ralph Zermeno at 654-2353 or Det. Raul Munoz at 654-2355.