MALIBU—A naked man was found dead in the water off Puerco Beach in Malibu on Wednesday, September 9, around 3:30 p.m. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene after receiving reports of a body floating in the water.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department pronounced the man dead at the scene. Canyon News reached out to the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office, which confirmed the man was 36 year old Braden Pontoli and that the location of death was the 24700 block of Malibu Road. The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined and will be updated once available.
Pontoli had been reported missing since Tuesday, September 8. According to a public Facebook post from his partner, Tommy Lei, Pontoli traveled to Santa Monica for an in-person interview near Broadway Avenue and 4th Street around 10 a.m. that day and had not been heard from since. Lei said a police and missing person’s report had been filed, and described the disappearance as out of character.
A missing person flyer circulated by family and friends listed Pontoli as 5’11”, about 200 pounds, and last seen wearing a blue button-up shirt with black pants. The flyer also referenced that he drives a blue 2019 Nissan Kicks with license plate 8LSW685.
A video captured by KTLA showed the body covered by a green canopy on the beach as law enforcement investigated the incident. Some earlier reports suggested the man may have experienced a medical emergency, though this has not been confirmed by officials.
By Milan Manesh