Deputies were called to the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu just before 12:30 p.m. Saturday after a woman who had been reported missing was found dead off the shore. Authorities have not released her name or any other details about her identity, and the cause of her death has not yet been determined.
The woman's disappearance had been reported to the Los Angeles Police Department, which was still handling the missing-person case when she was found, according to KTLA. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is also investigating, said evidence gathered through its Homicide Bureau's investigation alongside LAPD's probe indicates the death may likely have been a suicide. That assessment has not been confirmed, and officials have not said when or whether it will be finalized.
As MyNewsLA.com reported, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office will ultimately determine the official cause of death. No timeline has been given for when that determination might be made public.
Identity Still Withheld as Investigation Continues
Authorities have not identified the woman, and no further information about her has been made public. The case remains open between the sheriff's department and LAPD, and it's unclear what additional details, if any, investigators plan to release as the probe moves forward.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or through lacrimestoppers.org.
A String of Unrelated Malibu Cases
The circumstances echo other recent incidents along the Malibu coastline, though officials have not tied these cases together. In a separate matter, a homicide investigation was opened after a woman was found in Malibu, with fire personnel responding to a medical emergency call on Westlake Boulevard around 7:15 p.m. and locating a female adult, according to a report carried by Yahoo News. Investigators in that case had not determined a cause of death and were awaiting autopsy results.
In September, the body of a man was found on a Malibu beach, a case also investigated by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, the same station reported. Preliminary, unconfirmed information at the time suggested the man may have suffered a medical emergency, though that detail, too, was never confirmed as a final cause.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide can call or text 988 to reach the nationwide mental health crisis hotline for immediate help.
