The family of a 16-year-old girl killed in Madera County is gathering signatures in an effort to keep her killer behind bars as he approaches future eligibility for parole.

Josephine Jimenez was found dead Oct. 22, 2019, at a rural agricultural property in southern Madera County, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called to the property shortly before 10:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a possible deceased person.

Investigators initially treated Jimenez’s death as suspicious and launched what the sheriff’s office described as a comprehensive investigation.

Months later, investigators identified Codi Slayton, then 19 and living in Oceanside, as a suspect after the Naval Criminal Investigative Service contacted the sheriff’s office in December 2019. NCIS investigators had identified Slayton during an unrelated investigation and believed he might be connected to Jimenez’s death.

Madera County sheriff’s detectives traveled to Oceanside to interview Slayton. He was initially taken into custody by NCIS on unrelated charges.

Sheriff’s detectives later arrested Slayton on a first-degree murder charge based on information obtained during the interview and evidence uncovered during additional investigation. He was booked into the Madera County Department of Corrections on $1 million bail.

Slayton Contacted Young Girls Through Social Media

Investigators said at the time that Slayton had used several social media applications to communicate with Jimenez and other young girls throughout California and possibly elsewhere in the United States. Authorities asked anyone who had communicated with him online to contact investigators.

Slayton, a former Marine, later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. At age 22, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 15 years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Jimenez’s family is now circulating a petition asking that Slayton remain incarcerated.

In the petition, Jimenez’s family describes her as a teenager “full of life, dreams, and a bright future” and says her death permanently changed the family.

The family alleges Slayton coerced and blackmailed Jimenez into leaving her home before killing her and says other women were also victimized by him.

“Josephine was more than just a sister; she was a daughter, a friend, a cousin, and a cherished member of our family,” her family wrote in the petition.

The family says Slayton is up for parole in December 2029 and is seeking public support well ahead of that date. The petition asks authorities to consider the severity of Jimenez’s killing and deny Slayton release.

The family argues that keeping Slayton incarcerated is necessary both to honor Jimenez and to protect others.

“Please, join us in honoring Josephine’s memory and help us keep our community safe,” the petition says.

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