[Update: Thursday, Oct. 11]: A woman who was found dead off of Pacific Coast Highway, near Point Dume, on Oct. 5 has been identified as 32-year-old Maeva Sarramona.
According to detail on the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s website, the case itself has been deferred, pending more investigation.
A woman was found dead off of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu last Friday morning, Oct. 5. Identified by investigators only as “Jane Doe,” she was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:50 a.m.
Jane Doe, believed to be in her 30s, was found at the 28000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, per Sarah Ardalani, Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner spokesperson.
Hours after the discovery, Detective Tim Ruggiero with the LA County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau told The Malibu Times, “As far as I know, there’s no indication of foul play or any crime.”
Later, he confirmed that the death looked to be a suicide.
“There was—it looked like—a note was found on the person’s property,” Ruggiero said. “There were other things there, I believe, that were used by the victim to complete the suicide.”
He added that information from the coroner’s autopsy report substantiated this conclusion. Ardalani was not able to confirm the cause of death. In an email, she stated, “A determination has not been made yet on her death,” and added that the investigation was currently ongoing as of Tuesday.
Though the victim’s identity was known to officials, it had not been disclosed as of The Malibu Times deadline; the woman’s next-of-kin was being notified of the death.
On Friday, LASD Deputy Mike Treinen informed KBU News that a French passport was found in the deceased’s belongings, and that she was thought to be homeless at the time.
On social media, a different account of the Oct. 5 discovery was posted, sparking rumors about what may have happened.
An account with the username MalibuWave Salon made a post stating the deceased woman was found in the salon’s parking lot. (The salon is located at 28925 Pacific Coast Highway.)
Though the post—and another subsequent post—is now deleted, another user shared what the original post said: “Happened in my parking lot. Body of a woman found nude, appeared sexually assaulted and brutally beaten. Jane Doe as of now. If anyone saw anything please contact Lost Hills Sheriff. Apparently body has been there a couple days.”
In the second post, the account owner stated that the body was discovered by the building’s gardener, who apparently gave a description that contradicted what officials shared with The Malibu Times on Friday. A photo of a pair of bloody gloves, allegedly found at the scene, was attached to the post. It is unclear if the gloves were one of the items Ruggiero alluded to.
The owner of the salon did not respond to requests for comment.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.