Calif. Man Allegedly Used 'Shards of Glass' to Kill Girlfriend in Hotel Room, Prosecutors Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock photo of police cars and tape.Photo:Getty Stock Photo

Getty Stock Photo

A man was charged with murdering his girlfriend in Ventura County, Calif., according to a Ventura County District Attorney’s Officenews releaseon Wednesday, Jan. 15.

On Monday, Jan. 6, at 10:45 p.m., Uriel Gamboa, 31, called authorities and told them he killed his girlfriend Aliya Pitts, 24, inside their room at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks, Calif., per theVentura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO). The VCSO deputies arrived at the scene just before 11:00 p.m. and discovered Pitts’s body in the room.

“Gamboa sustained self-inflicted injuries,” per the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office’s latest press release. He allegedly told authorities he was “feeling suicidal,” per the VCSO new release.

Once in police custody, Gamboa was taken to a local hospital. He was then discharged on Friday, Jan. 10, and then was arrested for murder. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Gamboa was also charged with use of a deadly weapon, crime being committed with great bodily injury and crime involving great violence.

Gamboa remains in custody without bail, and an arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10, at Ventura County Superior Court.

Mug shot for Uriel Gamboa.Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

The motive of the murder is under investigation. “The investigation shows this to be an isolated incident, with no outstanding threat to the public,” per VCSO news release.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Christopher Vorzimer at 805-384-4731 or Detective Nicole Grover at 805-384-4722.

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If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com