SANTA MONICA—A man who committed suicide was found under the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, November 21.
The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the 1600 block of the beach around 6:30 a.m. after a report of a suicide was made. The victim appeared to have hung himself underneath the SM Pier.
In an email to Canyon News the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office indicated that the decedent was a Caucasian male in his 30s. It is unknown if he was transient and his identity is pending notification of next of kin. No other details were immediately available.
This case is the eighth suicide to transpire in the city of Santa Monica in the past two years and the third suicide to transpire at the pier.
In Spring 2018, the naked body of Travis Ford, 37, was found near the pier. Officials say that several witnesses saw him perform some type of ritual before jumping into the ocean around midnight. Another suicide was reported in February 2018, after a man leaped to his death. After an extensive search, he was discovered near a lifeguard tower south of the pier.
Over the past decade, California’s suicide rates have consistently decreased compared to the National Suicide Rate per the Rand Corporation. According to their website, the Rand Corporation is a nonprofit organization that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.
For individuals who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or knows someone struggling call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time of day or night or chat online. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
