A California man allegedly wearing a Ghostface mask from the “Scream” horror franchise joined a group of men in a knife-point rape of a woman nearly a decade ago — has finally been arrested, authorities say.
Ricardo Jimenez-Garcia, 39, was arrested last month in connection with the alleged assault, which took place in the early hours of Sept. 21, 2017, in Simi Valley.
Garcia and several other men allegedly wore masks resembling the infamous slasher from the hit horror movies to conceal their identities before attacking the woman as she walked along Galena Avenue around 4 a.m., according to investigators.
The suspects fled after the alleged assault, and the woman called 911. Responding officers investigated, but the case eventually went cold.
Nearly nine years later, investigators identified Garcia as a suspect and took him into custody, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Nearly nine years later, investigators identified Garcia as a suspect and took him into custody, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Garcia is being held at the Ventura County Main Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 18, jail records show.
He faces multiple felony charges, including forcible rape while acting in concert, sodomy by acting in concert with force, unlawful sexual intercourse, second-degree robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
It was unclear whether bail had been set.
Jail records list Garcia’s birthplace as Mexico and his occupation as “polisher.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Ventura County District Investigator Yumi Kirk at (805) 477-1638.
Ventura County Senior Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber is prosecuting the case.
The alleged attack involved a mask made famous by “Scream,” the 1996 slasher film that launched a blockbuster horror franchise centered on the Ghostface killer.
The series has spawned seven movies, including “Scream 7,” released this year, and helped launch the careers of actors Matthew Lillard, David Arquette and Neve Campbell.
