Two Arrested In Connection With Body Found In Barrel In Malibu Lagoon

MALIBU, CA — A 37-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the killing of a man whose body was found in a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon in July, and another man has been charged with helping him cover up the crime, deputies said Friday.

Joshua Lee Simmons was arrested on suspicion of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 4. Simmons is accused of killing Javonnta Marshann Murphy, 32, whose unclothed body was stuffed in a barrel that was found floating in Malibu Lagoon on July 31, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Murphy died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Los Angeles County medical examiner determined. Simmons is accused of using a handgun during the commission of the crime, deputies said.

Dennis Eugene Vance, 41, is accused of helping Simmons cover up the shooting and has been charged with a felony count of being an accessory after the fact. He remains free on bond and is awaiting arraignment next week, according to jail records.

Deputies said in a statement that the do not know the motive for the shooting, but described Simmons and Vance as acquaintances of the victim.

Simmons has also been charged with three counts of criminal threats against separate victims on July 27 and Sept. 2, along with a charge of attempted robbery Sept. 2 in El Monte.

Simmons is accused of using bear repellant spray during the September incidents, according to court documents.

He was previously convicted of grand theft of a firearm in 2006 and first-degree burglary in 2008, court documents show.

Deputies arrested Simmons on Oct. 3. He's remained in custody since then in lieu of more than $3.2 million bail, according to county jail records.

City News Service contributed to this report.