DNA technology leads to arrest in 2014 Oxnard stabbing death of Labh Nigah
OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – Over ten years after the murder of Labh Nigah in Sierra Linda Park, investigators announced the arrest of 32-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez in connection Monday.
On the morning of Nov. 13, 2014, the 55-year-old father and local convenience store clerk was fatally stabbed at Sierra Linda Park after dropping his son off at school.
According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, police responded to a call of a battery at the park and officers located Nigah with stab wounds alongside a walking path.
Despite lifesaving attempts at the scene, the 55-year-old was declared dead at the scene and his death was eventually ruled a homicide shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
New DNA technology used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation helped to develop new leads years after the attack.
On April 2 of this year, detectives served a search warrant at an Oxnard residence and on Monday, April 6, 2026, Oxnard Police shared that the advancements in DNA testing led them to arrest 32-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez who lived nearby to the Nigah family at the time of the murder.
Mr. Nigah's daughters Harleen and Arshneel also met with local members of the media regarding the announcement of the arrest.
They explained that their father embodied the American dream and his loss happed when both of the now-adult women were still in high school.
Dealing with the loss of her father, "hasn't gotten any easier" despite the years since his death shared Arshneel Kaur Monday.
She explained that his memory still drives her as a personal mantra, "How can I make him prouder than I already have."
His eldest daughter Harleen noted the her father taught her, "Be modest, humble and hardworking" and she has carried this message while growing up without him.
Police stated Monday that the killing was a random act of violence and Jimenez, who was 20 at the time of the murder, has now been arraigned on a felony charge of murder.
"This was an ambush and a brutal crime committed in broad daylight against a completely unsuspecting victim," said Ventura County District Attorney Nasarenko. "While nothing can undo the harm caused to Mr. Nigah's family, the arrest and filing of charges represents an important step toward accountability. This case is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners and the power of advancing forensic technology to deliver justice, no matter how much time has passed."
Jimenez is next due in court on April 28 and he remains in custody on a $1 million bail shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
