A body found inside a sealed barrel on a beach in Malibu, California was that of a singer-songwriter and rap artist from the Los Angeles area, officials have said.
The body was discovered at around 10am on Monday (July 31), when a local lifeguard pulled the barrel out of the water and checked inside. The lifeguard opened the barrel because it was suspiciously heavy, a source close to the investigation told a local reporter.
Now, The LA County medical examiner has identified the body as being that of 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy, of Sylmar. Murphy’s body was found naked inside the barrel, but his cause of death has yet to be released, say reports.
Murphy’s social media pages show he was a singer-songwriter and hip-hop artist. He often posted videos of himself singing to his own music in his car.
Friends, family and strangers have flooded his social media with condolences and expressions of sadness. One commented on an Instagram video: “Rest in peace…you didn’t deserve what happened to you. I don’t know you, but I know nobody deserves this.”
Another read: “So sorry this happened to you…you were such a good dude.”
Former Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner said he noticed the barrel on Sunday. He told the LA Times he “thought it was a toxic waste container when I saw it.”
“This is not what happens in Malibu. This is not a common occurrence. I mean, bodies in a barrel is just sad.”
A police investigation is ongoing and officers are hoping to look at security footage for clues.
