Woman's body found in Laguna Beach; homicide investigation launched

Authorities have launched a homicide investigation in Laguna Beach after a woman's body was discovered on Sunday. 

Tatum Goodwin, 27, was found by a construction worker at around 8:20 a.m. in the 200 block of Ocean Avenue, according to Laguna Beach Police Department. 

A friend and former coworker of the victim showed KCAL News where the body was found, in a dirt area behind the old movie theater. 

"She was like my sister," Kimberly Francisco said. "We used to work here, we used to like go for Starbucks, everything."

She's one of the many who knew the victim well, with the noticeable shock of the incident shaking the entire community of friends in the area. 

They say that she worked at Carmelita's, located across from Main Beach, and that they last saw her after their shift ended at around 11 p.m. Saturday evening. 

"Everybody knew her," said one coworker who wished not to be identified. "Everybody that knew her, knows how big her heart is."

He said that they all had plans to head to Hennessey's Tavern after work.

"Saturday night, we were working, closing our shift. Normally we park around the building and that's where, normally, we all walk to our cars," he said, noting that she had parked her car in the nearby US Bank parking lot, where many of them usually park. "We were all planning to go to Hennessey's, but I mean like, at the end, everybody decided to go separate ways."

Due to circumstances surrounding the incident, they have decided to investigate the case as a homicide due to the trauma to the body, according to LBPD Captain Mike Peters. 

Investigators also say that they have not been able to locate the victim's cellphone and that it is still pinging off of cell towers in the area. 

The woman has not yet been identified and a cause of death has not yet been revealed. 

Anyone with information on the woman's death was urged to contact detectives at (949) 497-0369.