Police ID Man Found Off Side Of Road Near Malibu

MALIBU, CA – The decomposing body of a young man who was found off the side of a road in an unincorporated area of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu was identified Sunday by the coroner's office.

Roger Chavez Barahona, 19, died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the coroner's office.

Barahona's body was found about 11:30 a.m. July 27, in the 24300 block of Piuma Road, near Schueren Road. Detectives were awaiting Malibu Search and Rescue to recover the remains, which were in the early stages of decomposition, before processing the scene, the sheriff's department reported.

Firefighters responded to a report of a possible body near the road and, along with deputies, found Barahona in some dirt about 10 feet from the shoulder, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department inspector and the coroner's office.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock