Weeks after a hiker discovered human remains at Malibu Bluffs Park, officials were not able to provide much more information than the fact that the remains were classified as “John Doe.”
“In our department, under circumstances like these where it’s … not clear cut, then the homicide bureau of our department takes the investigative lead on cases like this and they assign homicide detectives to look into it and that’s happened,” Lt. Jim Royal of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station described last week. “The investigation is being handled by LA County Sheriffs’ homicide bureau, but that doesn’t mean it’s a murder. Homicide is looking into it, and of course we assist in any way we can.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, coroner’s officials were not available to comment on proceedings of the case, but as of late last week, all that was confirmed was that it was a male, found off a trail in the park.
“A hiker reported a foul odor on the trail and alerted park employees,” Royal described. “[Approximately] 75 feet west of the parking lot off the trail—not visible.”
Royal classified the identity of the deceased as “unconfirmed.”