Crime & Safety
Death Of 27-Year-Old Laguna Beach Woman Leaves Community In Shock
Tatum Goodwin worked as a waitress at a local restaurant and was found dead in an alley behind an old movie theater Sunday.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A tight-knit south Orange County community is reeling after the body of a 27-year-old woman was found dead in an alley behind an old movie theater and a restaurant Sunday.
Laguna Beach police officers responded at around 8:20 a.m. to the 200 block of Ocean Avenue after a construction worker discovered the body of Tatum Goodwin "down in a secluded location."
Officers said that her body showed trauma consistent with homicide.
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“She was just such a loving, honest person,” a friend of the 27-year-old, Aleena Macintosh, told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade. “You just wouldn’t think that anything would happen to her.”
Others who knew her say they are still in disbelief that the young, attractive member of their community was found under these tragic circumstances.
“Everyone knew her as just a kind girl that was around, kind of a face of the community, not from here, lived in San Clemente,” Nicolas Alonge, another friend, told KTLA. “She worked at Carmelita’s.”
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The owner and operator of Carmelita's, Marcos Salim, created a GoFundMe page for Tatum and her family members in an effort to pay for funeral and memorial expenses.
"I have had the great pleasure to have Tatum as our assistant manager, friend and family member in our business for four years," Salim wrote on GoFundMe. "Tatum was a very hard working young lady and always had a smile on her face."
Salim added that over the years, Tatum expressed her happiness to be in Laguna Beach while working her job at Carmelita's.
"I am seeking help to make a memorial in the City of Laguna Beach for our team and family member. We are still in disbelief and don't want her to go forgotten."
Residents can help Salim's effort by donating directly to his GoFundMe page.
Anyone with information on this homicide was asked to Laguna Beach police Detective Tanner Flagstad at 949-497-0369. Tipsters can also call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
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