Body of Homeless Man Found Under Santa Monica Pier Victim of Fourth Homicide This Year

By Lookout Staff

September 20, 2018 -- The body of a homeless man who was killed by a blow to the head was found under the Santa Monica Pier at sunrise Thursday morning, police said.

The man, a caucassian in his mid 30s, "suffered an injury consistent with blunt force trauma to the head," police said.

"He was homeless and appears to have been sleeping under the pier," said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the police department spokesman.

Detectives responding to the scene conducted an investigation and are seeking the public’s help with locating witnesses or information concerning the homicide.

"Anyone that may have been around the pier in the early morning hours and may be able to provide information related to this investigation" should contact police, Rodriguez said.

Anyone with information should call Detective Leone at (310) 458-8943, Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942, or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.

Thursday's incident marks the fourth homicide in Santa Monica this year.

The first took place on New Year's day when the 88-year-old victim, John Hautz, succumbed to blows sustained in his apartment on the 2300 block of 34th Street ("LA Man Charged with Murder of Santa Monica Senior," February 27, 2018).

On May 1, an elderly woman was killed in a fire allegedly set by a 26-year-old relative ("Woman Charged with Murder of Elderly Resident in Santa Monica House Fire," May 3, 2018).

And on July 6, a homeless man was stabbed to death on a bench at Saint John's hospital ("Suspect Arrested, Victim Identified in Killing on Hospital Grounds in Santa Monica," July 9, 2018).