By Daily Press Staff
A unidentified man was found laying dead on a bench in Virginia Avenue Park this past weekend.
Police found the body of a 39-year-old Hispanic male Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The Santa Monica Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene. The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office ruled Sunday the cause of the man’s death was from an assault.
The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of his family. Authorities believe the man was homeless and could have died as a result of protecting his bottle of liquor that someone was trying to steal.
An investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Santa Monica Robbery-Homicide unit. Anyone with information on the crime should call detective W.S. Brown at 458-8437.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 4, 2001. Read the original PDF.