In November of 2021, Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin were killed when Oscar Eduardo Ortega Anguiano crashed into them, burning them alive, while driving high, drunk and at the speed of 100 mph. Ortega-Anguiano is an illegal Mexican immigrant, with three previous felony convictions and had been deported twice, in 2016 and 2018. In spring of March 2022, Ortega-Anguiano was convicted of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and sentenced for 10 years. On Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025), parents of Anya and Nicholay received a statement of release from the CA Department of Corrections, notifying them that Ortega-Anguiano will be released July 2025, after only serving 3.5 years of his 10 year sentence. After an already, unproportionally short sentence, freeing Ortega-Anguiano prematurely allows him to continue violating the law and endangering others around him. This is injustice and the actions of a failed justice system. Because of this man, lives were altered, leaving so many devastated with unimaginable and unbearable pain. 

Anya and Nicholay, a couple, both 19 years old, had a huge impact on their community. Anya was an avid ballerina dancer, dancing since she was 6 years old, later becoming a teacher at the Bayer Ballet Academy. Nicholay was a Pepperdine student studying international business, loved to spend time with his friends and working on cars. We lost two of the most beautiful souls, kindest friends and wonderful people. Their names have to be heard, their story has to be told, their murderer must be held accountable, and we must continue their fight for justice. They were our children, our brother and sister, our loved ones and our friends, taken away too soon by an inconsiderate felon. 

If Ortega-Anguiano is released in July 2025, justice will not have been served for Anya and Nicholay. This is clear and blind disrespect to the lives of Anya and Nicholay, a slap in the face to the parents, families and friends of Anya and Nicholay, In addition, with the release of Ortega-Anguiano, this puts a violent, illegal immigrant and convict back into our society. Considering the fact that Ortega-Anguiano has been already deported twice and has entered the US illegally for the third time, there are no guarantees or measures that ensure that Ortega-Anguiano will not attempt to re-enter the US once deported. Federal officials have stated that they will be prosecuting Ortega-Anguiano under federal law for violating federal immigration laws, which could land him in federal prison for 20 years. But justice will go unserved for the murder of Anya and Nicholay. 

How failed is our justice system, that we allow for a four-time repeat offender to be released? How can a violent man with vehicular manslaughter conviction get released after 3.5 years? Where is the justice? It is of utmost importance for immediate action to take place. The justice system has failed to reprimand Ortega-Anguiano for previous felony convictions, including burglary, vehicle theft and spousal battery with kidnapping. Additionally, federal officials have failed us in putting Ortega-Anguiano into federal prison for violating federal immigration laws. The deaths of Anya and Nicholay were preventable. We as a society and community CANNOT allow for a failed system of justice to continue making mistakes and commit gross injustice for Anya and Nicholay. Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano should not be released from prison. 

We urge you to sign this petition to fight the release of Ortega-Anguiano. In addition to signing this petition, contact state officials to appeal his release. Contact Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer at todd.spitzer@osdapa.org for Spitzer to appeal the release of Ortega-Anguiano. Contact the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) by sending letters to Department of Corrections California Medical Facility PO Box 2000, Vacaville, CA 95696. Contact the Governor of California Gavin Newsom by sending letters to 1021 O Street, Suite 9000, Sacramento, CA 95814.