PALISADES PARK Police continue to investigate the possible murder of a 37-year-old man found beaten on a park bench over the weekend.
The victim, who suffered from blunt-force trauma to the head, is believed to have been homeless, according to police.
“There was a pretty big gash on his forehead,” said SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla.
The identity of the man had not been released as of Monday afternoon. The Los Angeles County Coroner has identified the victim, but could not release his name until the next of kin had been notified.
The body was found shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday in the 1500 block of Palisades Park. A passerby saw the man lying dormant in a park bench adjacent to the Senior Citizen Center, his face bloodied.
Police responded, thinking the man was simply sleeping or had passed out. When they arrived, they determined he was dead, and based upon the evidence at the scene, began their murder investigation.
No description of the suspect was available.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the robbery/homocide unit of the SMPD.
Three homeless people have been found dead in Santa Monica in the last three months, according to police reports.
George Hernandez, 52, was found lying on the sidewalk on Ocean Avenue in May. Police found no signs of foul play and believed the man died from complications brought on by chronic alcohol abuse.
On the morning of March 29, the body of Elizabeth Bernice Celaya was discovered outside the beach bathroom about a mile south of the Santa Monica Pier, according to police. No evidence of foul play was found in that case either.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.