32-year-old Javonnta Murphy was identified man found dead inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday. On Sunday evening, a maintenance worker for the park noticed the barrel floating in the ocean close to the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. When they tried to move it to shore, they found it to be too heavy, so they decided to leave it there.
Around 10 a.m. on Monday, a lifeguard arrived at work and noticed the barrel; they swam to get it. According to LASD, that is when they made the horrifying discovery.
“It didn’t look decomposed or like it had been there for a long time,” said Lt. Hugo Raynaga. Detectives are still searching the area for leads, witnesses, and surveillance footage that can help them with their investigation.
At this moment, authorities have not revealed any other information regarding the 32-year-old victim.
