Santa Paula Man Arrested After Fleeing to Mexico Following the Murder of an Ojai Woman

Update by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
June 5, 2025

Victim: Carolyn NinoDeRivera, 26, Ojai
Suspect: Christian Hillairet, 24, Santa Paula

On May 31, 2025, at approximately 9:09 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received multiple calls stating a female may have been murdered at a residence in the 12000 block of Sisar Road in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula.  When deputies arrived, they confirmed there was a deceased female in the residence and evidence at the scene indicated she was a victim of a homicide.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau assumed responsibility for the investigation and quickly identified Christian Hillairet as a person of interest. During the morning hours of June 1, 2025, investigators learned that Hillairet crossed into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing.

Working with multiple federal agencies, Hillairet was located and arrested on June 2, 2025, in Rosarito, Baja California. United States and Mexican authorities coordinated to repatriate Hillairet back to the United States where he could be taken into custody by local authorities.

On June 4, 2025, the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau sent a contingent of investigators and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent to the San Ysidro border crossing. Mexican authorities released custody of Hillairet into the control of the U.S. Marshals Service who in turn released Hillairet to Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Investigators.

Hillairet was transported back to Ventura County where he was booked on June 5, 2025, for the murder of Carolyn NinoDeRivera, a violation of California Penal Code Section 187(a).

Ventura Sheriff’s Detectives Investigate Homicide in Santa Paula

Written by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
June 1, 2025

Location:12000 Block of Sisar Road, Santa Paula
Date & Time:05/31/25 @ 9:09 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, Fillmore Police Department, Ojai Police Department, Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Sheriff’s West County Special Enforcement Unit and Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office

Victim: Adult Female, 26, Santa Paula

On 05/31/25, at approximately 9:09 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received multiple calls stating a female may have been murdered at a residence in the 12000 block of Sisar Road in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula.

When deputies arrived, they confirmed there was a deceased female in the residence and evidence at the scene indicated she was a victim of a homicide.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau assumed responsibility for the investigation and are actively investigating the incident as a homicide.

The incident appears to be isolated, and a suspect is currently outstanding. Investigators are requesting anyone with information related to the investigation to contact Detective Marco at 805-384-4739.