The LosAngeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after a man’s naked body was found floating inside a 55-gallon drum at Malibu Lagoon State Beach on Monday.
Police identified the victim Tuesday as 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy but provided no other information about him, KTLA reported.
A park maintenance worker first saw the drum Sunday night, floating near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. The worker tried to drag it to shore but found it too heavy and left it in the water.
The following morning, a lifeguard arriving for work at about 10 a.m. saw the barrel and swam out to retrieve it. The lifeguard got the barrel to shore and opened it, finding the body inside.
“It didn’t look decomposed or like it had been there for a long time,” said Lt. Hugo Raynaga.
KNBC reported that the body inside the drum had no clothing.
According to KABC, the barrel had a printing company label on it.
Investigators said they were looking for clues, witnesses, and surveillance footage that may shed light on the incident and said it was possible the barrel was carried in from the ocean on the high tide.
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[Featured image: KABC screenshot]
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