THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Law enforcement authorities in Ventura County have scheduled a major press conference to announce the arrest and formal felony charges filed in connection with an unsolved cold case involving the 1994 kidnapping and robbery of a Thousand Oaks business owner, public safety officials announced Wednesday.
The suspect identified in the landmark cold case prosecution is 32-year-old law enforcement veteran Michael Douglas Brambles, a former Los Angeles Police Department detective who is currently a convicted rapist.
According to a formal media advisory issued by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the 32-year-old cold case was successfully reopened and solved as a direct result of ongoing forensic DNA testing performed under the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
Press Conference Scheduled at Thousand Oaks Sheriff's Station
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff will convene a joint press briefing alongside the victim, who is being identified publicly only by her initials, S.W., to share specific investigative breakthroughs and evidence that led to the filing of criminal charges against Brambles.
The press conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PDT at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Thousand Oaks Station, located at 2101 East Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. Credentialed news media representatives will be granted access to the briefing room starting at 9:00 a.m., where official charging documents, background materials, and historical photographs will be distributed.
The upcoming announcement highlights the critical role played by specialized cold case units and modern forensic technologies in solving decades-old violent offenses across Southern California.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Breakthrough
The 1994 crime involved the abduction and robbery of a female business owner in Thousand Oaks. For decades, the case remained unsolved despite extensive initial canvassing and follow-up investigations by local detectives.
The breakthrough occurred after evidence collected during the original 1994 crime scene processing was re-examined and submitted for advanced genetic analysis through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. The specialized initiative, funded in part by federal grants, focuses on testing backlogged sexual assault evidence, entering DNA profiles into national law enforcement databases, and re-evaluating unsolved violent crime files.
Forensic evidence linked Brambles directly to the 1994 crime scene, providing prosecutors with the legal foundation required to file formal criminal charges including felony kidnapping for robbery.
"The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will hold a news conference Thursday, August 13, to announce the arrest and charges filed against Michael Douglas Brambles, a former LAPD detective and convicted rapist, accused of kidnapping for robbery of a Thousand Oaks business owner in 1994," the District Attorney's Office stated in an official advisory released by Public Information Officer Joey Buttitta.
"The case was reopened thanks to continued testing as part of the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff and the victim, who will be identified publicly only by her initials, S.W., will speak at the news conference," agency officials added in their public briefing announcement.
Impact of Cold Case Investigations and Victim Advocacy
The presence of the victim, S.W., at Thursday's news briefing underscores the enduring personal impact of unsolved violent crimes and the importance of persistent law enforcement effort, even after decades have passed.
Victim advocacy representatives from the District Attorney's Office have been working closely with S.W. throughout the renewed investigation to provide guidance, legal support, and protective measures as the case advances into judicial proceedings within Ventura County Superior Court.
Thursday's press briefing will provide additional details regarding the exact sequence of events during the 1994 abduction, the specific role Brambles played during the incident, his timeline of service with the Los Angeles Police Department, and his current custodial status.
Members of the media and public seeking additional information regarding the upcoming news conference can contact District Attorney’s Office Communications Manager Joey Buttitta by calling (805) 767-3400 or sending an email directly to Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov. Official public advisories and media releases from local law enforcement can also be reviewed directly on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office media portal.
Sources
Ventura County District Attorney's Office Official Media Advisory