Saul Nava Sentenced for Girlfriend's Murder

Saul Nava, a 24-year-old man from Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 50 years and 8 months to life in prison for the murder and torture of his girlfriend, Alisen Takacs-Escobar. The crime occurred on Christmas Eve 2021, after days of severe abuse, culminating in her death from blunt force trauma. Evidence found at the scene included tattoo equipment and items used to inflict injuries, alongside videos on Nava's phone depicting him taunting Takacs-Escobar. The jury convicted Nava of multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, torture, and kidnapping, but did not find sufficient grounds for a special circumstance allegation that could have led to a life sentence without parole. Furthermore, detectives uncovered a previous victim who had survived similar abuse at the hands of Nava, providing further context to his violent history. This case highlights the ongoing issues of domestic violence and the need for systemic changes to protect victims.