No Charges Filed in Bludgeoning Death

Calling it a case of self-defense, Ventura County prosecutors have decided not to file criminal charges against a 21-year-old Santa Paula man arrested on suspicion of bludgeoning his neighbor to death with a rock.

Margarito Hernandez was arrested in Colorado on Aug. 19, two days after authorities found the body of Jose Manzo, 52, in a steep wooded area near Mill Park in Santa Paula.

Manzo had been missing for two days when his body was found. He was last seen walking with Hernandez from an Orchard Street apartment complex to the park.

Authorities said they were tipped to Hernandez’s whereabouts after he called someone in Santa Paula and asked for the phone number of friends in Northglenn, Colo., where he was later arrested.

Ventura County prosecutors have reviewed evidence in the case, including statements given by Hernandez to local investigators. On Friday, they announced that no criminal charges would be filed.

Revealing few details, Deputy Dist. Atty. Bob Calvert said the evidence showed Hernandez and Manzo got into a dispute during which Hernandez was threatened with serious injury and acted to protect himself.

Hernandez hit Manzo three times in the head with a rock, Calvert said. An autopsy revealed Manzo died from blunt-force injuries to the head.

Police said they found bloodstained rocks near the victim’s body. Calvert would not say whether Hernandez sustained any injuries. He described the pair as acquaintances.

Hernandez remains jailed in Colorado pending a review by U.S. immigration officials.