The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office has identified the man found deceased inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday. The victim is Javonnta Murphy, aged 32, as officially announced on Tuesday.
A park maintenance worker initially spotted the floating drum near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge on Sunday night. However, due to the drum’s weight, they were unable to drag it to the shore and left it in the water.
The discovery of the body was made by a lifeguard who noticed the barrel on Monday morning and swam out to retrieve it. According to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, the body did not appear to have been in the water for a long time. Authorities suspect the high tide may have carried the drum from the ocean into the lagoon.
The incident has left local beachgoers and surfers shocked and deeply concerned. One beachgoer expressed their disbelief, noting that such incidents rarely occur in the area, making it an unthinkable event.
Detectives are currently scouring the area for potential clues, witnesses, and surveillance footage that could assist in the ongoing investigation.
The Sheriff’s Department is encouraging anyone with information to come forward. No further details about the victim, Javonnta Murphy, have been released as of now.