Grisly Beach Discovery Prompts Homicide Investigation...And Laughs

LONG BEACH, CA — Lifeguards in Long Beach shut down Junipero Beach Monday morning after they discovered what appeared to be a human skull in the sand, triggering a homicide investigation. But it wasn't until the medical examiner arrived that investigators realized this was no ordinary murder.

According to a report from KTLA, lifeguards found the grisly discovery washed ashore in the area of East Ocean Boulevard and Orizaba Avenue. The Long Beach Police Department was quickly notified.

Officers shut down parts of the beach to search for other body parts to connect to the homicide investigation.

But the whole investigation came to an abrupt halt when medical examiners realized the skull was a prop made of plastic.

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The skull, which was missing part of its face and teeth, looked realistic from far away medical examiners told KTLA.

The investigation ultimately fizzled out and the beach was reopened after the discovery.

Read more from KTLA: This bizarre discovery on a Southern California beach wasn’t what it seemed