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Authorities identify 3 found dead at Oak Park home

Ventura County Sheriff's patrol vehicles blocked off an Oak Park street Thursday evening as authorities investigated three deaths at a home on Evanwood Avenue.
Ventura County Sheriff's patrol vehicles blocked off an Oak Park street Thursday evening as authorities investigated three deaths at a home on Evanwood Avenue.

Ventura County Sheriff's officials are investigating three deaths discovered at an Oak Park home Thursday afternoon.

The incident was phoned in around 3:20 p.m. in the 5000 block of Evanwood Avenue. The block is in residential area south of Kanan Road and east of Lindero Canyon Road in the unincorporated community northeast of Thousand Oaks.

A man and two women were found dead at the scene, sheriff's officials said. They were identified Friday evening as Philip Ramirez, 87; Diane Ramirez, 58; and Susan Ramirez, 49. All three lived at the Oak Park home, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.

The victims were described as the father and two sisters of the initial caller, a woman, said sheriff's Capt. Darin Hendren.

There was no indication of foul play, officials said.

At the scene Thursday evening, Deputy Wendell Campbell said it wasn't immediately apparent what had caused the deaths.

Because the fatalities were unusual they were initially considered suspicious, he said. But after the sheriff's preliminary investigation turned up no indication anything criminal had taken place, the incident was no longer considered suspicious.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death, Campbell said. The cause and manner of death for all three victims remained pending Friday, officials said.

Ventura County firefighters had tested the scene, as is standard procedure, for fumes and other potential dangers before sheriff's personnel entered the residence, Campbell said.

Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath said Friday the agency uses a four-gas monitor to test levels of oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and natural gas in such scenarios. Those tests didn't find harmful levels of any of the substances at the scene Thursday, he said.

All three victims lived at the house, sheriff's Capt. Cameron Henderson said Friday. It wasn't immediately clear whether the caller who found the bodies also lived at the house, he said.

On Thursday evening, patrol vehicles from the sheriff's Thousand Oaks station blocked off the street. Light rain fell in the area much of the evening.

The incident remained under investigation Friday, authorities said.

This story will be updated.

Cytlalli Salgado is a breaking news reporter for the Ventura County Star. She can be reached by calling 805-437-0257 or emailing cytlalli.salgado@vcstar.com.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Authorities identify 3 found dead at Oak Park home