Southern California man accused of murdering girlfriend in hotel room
A Ventura County man was arrested and charged with murder after his girlfriend was found dead in a hotel room.
Uriel Gamboa, 31, was charged Tuesday for the death of Aliya Pitts, 24, a Sherman Oaks resident, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
On Jan. 6, Gamboa called authorities saying he had killed his girlfriend inside their room at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks. He also reportedly said he was “feeling suicidal,” court documents said.
Deputies responded to the hotel room shortly before 11 p.m. where they found the victim’s body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman’s cause of death was revealed as sharp and blunt force injuries with probable strangulation, The Ventura County Star reported. Prosecutors alleged Gamboa used “broken bottle/shards of glass” to kill the victim, according to documents obtained by the outlet.
Gamboa was found with self-inflicted injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment. He was taken into custody on Jan. 10 after being discharged from the hospital.
On Wednesday, he was charged with murder along with special allegations that the crime involved the use of a deadly weapon, was committed with great bodily injury, and involved great violence.
An arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 10 at Ventura County Superior Court. Gamboa remains in custody without bail.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Christopher Vorzimer at 805-384-4731 or Detective Nicole Grover at 805-384-4722.