Decomposed Body Discovered in Homeless Encampment Under Santa Monica Bridge. "When I saw him, his leg had been chewed on by some animal."

(May 16, 2026) - A decomposed body was found Saturday morning in a homeless encampment beneath the California Incline near Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), according to local resident and City Council candidate Derrick Townsend.

Townsend, who is running for Santa Monica City Council in the 2026 election, said he and his dog Frank discovered the remains while walking in the area. He described the body as "very decayed" with a strong odor, noting it was located in a known encampment under the incline that he has previously documented for trash and living conditions. "His leg had been chewed on, probably by some kind of animal." said Townsend.

"I was walking there to meditate on the water. Police got there super quick after I called. I work in hospitals I've seen dead bodies before. But from the smell, this guy had been dead 2 or 3 days. The weird thing about this guy is there was literally someone under the ramp with him. The other guy could have been doped out, it was weird he was just sitting under there with the body."

"I just found a dead body under the California Incline. What in the actual f*ck Santa Monica," Townsend posted on X shortly after the discovery. In follow-up comments, he added: "Homeless for sure. They live under the incline... Frank, my dog actually picked up on the smell. We found it very decayed. It was really bad. Heartbreaking." @Derrick_NOLA

"You're almost more likely to find a dead body in Santa Monica than be hit by lightning. It's an insane environment; 2 or 3 homeless people die on the street every week. What are we living in?"

As of Saturday evening, Santa Monica Police had not yet released an official statement on the incident, and the identity of the deceased, along with the cause of death, had not been publicly confirmed by authorities or the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. Homeless people are known to live in the cliffs above the ramp, which from the perspective of a meth head, offers a free cave with a view.

The California Incline, a historic roadway connecting Ocean Avenue to the beach, has seen ongoing issues with homeless encampments in the surrounding bluffs and underpass areas. Townsend, a vocal advocate on public safety and homelessness, frequently documents conditions in the area as part of his campaign platform.Townsend, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, is one of several candidates who have filed paperwork for the November 2026 Santa Monica City Council race. His campaign has emphasized accountability, treatment for addiction and mental illness, and addressing what he calls the failures of current homelessness policies. dt4sm.com

This incident comes amid broader community concerns about street encampments and unreported deaths in Santa Monica and Los Angeles County. No foul play has been suggested at this early stage.The Santa Monica Observer will provide updates as more information becomes available from SMPD and the Medical Examiner.