On July 30, 2023 the body of 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy was found inside a 55-gallon drum floating near Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway bridge. A lifeguard spotted the drum in the Malibu Lagoon and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded. Murphy, a Sylmar resident, was identified at the scene and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner‑Coroner determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, ruling the death a homicide.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau opened an investigation, interviewed people connected to Murphy and followed leads. On August 12, 2023 two suspects were arrested after search warrants were executed at multiple Los Angeles County locations; they were booked on charges that include murder and conspiracy to commit murder and were held without bail pending arraignment. Authorities have not disclosed a motive and continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.

Did anyone in the area know Murphy or see anything suspicious near the Malibu Lagoon around late July 2023?