A naked man was found dead in the waters off Malibu on Wednesday, while the exclusive community dealt with damage from a hurricane that prompted evacuations of several homes. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the beach north of Malibu Lagoon around 3 p.m. after receiving reports of a body in the water.
Firefighters recovered the man's body from the ocean, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity has not yet been released. Homicide detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have opened an investigation into the death, though officials have stated there is no immediate indication of foul play. Aerial footage showed deputies and firefighters gathered on the beach near a large canopy that covered the body.
Sinkhole Forces Evacuations
In parallel with the discovery of the body, a large sinkhole opened up on a private road, severing access to multiple properties and leading to evacuation orders for 31 residences in the area. The sinkhole's proximity to Nicolas Cage's cliff-top mansion, purchased in 2024 for $10.5 million, was noted as the road is the sole entry and exit point for the residents.
Sea Level Drive, where the sinkhole occurred, is home to numerous celebrities and runs alongside Broad Beach. Among the current residents are Pierce Brosnan, Dustin Hoffman, Ray Romano, Danny DeVito, Valerie Bertinelli, and Mindy Kaling. The City of Malibu has declared a local state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation order for the affected parcels.
The city is also preparing for potential severe weather this winter, including strong storms, high surf, heavy rain, mudslides, and coastal erosion, which have been linked to forecast El Niño conditions.