By Lookout Staff

February 10, 2025 -- A homeless woman was found apparently beaten to death in a sleeping bag on Santa Monica Beach early Monday morning, according to police.

The unidentified woman, who was around 30 years old, was found by City Beach Maintenance personnel at around 7 a.m. near "a lifeguard tower along the waterline," police said.

Officers responding to a report of an unresponsive individual on the 1500 block of the beach near the Pier found the victim "in a sleeping bag, displaying visible trauma to her face.

Fire Department personnel arrived shortly after and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

"At this time, the identity of the victim has not been determined. The circumstances surrounding the victim’s death are under investigation by SMPD," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesperson.

The incident marks the second homicide in Santa Monica this year. On January 15, a homeless man was fatally shot in the back in a Downtown alley.

The suspect -- identified as Fabian Mendez -- has not been arrested ("Police Identify Suspect in Year's First Homicide," January 16, 2025).

Anyone with information related to this incident should email Detective Peter Zamfirov at Peter.Zamfirov@santamonica.gov or Sgt. Alfonso Lozano at Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov or call the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.