Malibu Murder Mystery ROCKS HOLLYWOOD
Violent crime has infiltrated the once-safe community that many A-listers call home
It’s one of the toniest addresses in the world. Posh Malibu is known for its pristine beaches, picturesque mountains — and multimillion-dollar celebrity homes. On the south side, a rural corridor of canyons and cliffs overlook the Pacific, dotted with sleek mansions; to the north, the manicured lawns of Calabasas’ gated communities.
But lately, the area has become a war zone. In June, a father of two was murdered while camping in Malibu Creek State Park. The killer is still at large, and the crime has sparked new panic and paranoia as law enforcement disclosed reports of several more distressing events — including a near-deadly shooting, gunshot holes in cars, body dumps and at least eight other firearm-related incidents. “Lots of weird stuff [is] all occurring in the same area, which is a big problem,” Cece Woods, the editor in chief of the community’s The Local Malibu website, tells In Touch. And a Malibu insider adds, “These crimes have everybody who lives nearby on pins and needles.” That includes A-listers like the Kardashians, Katie Holmes, Jessica Simpson, Robert Downey Jr. and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. “Let’s put it this way,” says Woods. “If their security wasn’t on point before, it definitely is now.”
On June 22, Tristan Beaudette, a 35-yearold chemist from Irvine, Calif., was shot in the head inside his tent in Malibu Creek State Park — which is adjacent to the Smith family’s 150-acre estate and just over the hills from where Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, Katie Holmes and Jessica Simpson live. In January 2017, Meliss Tatangelo was, like Tristan, camping at Malibu Creek State Park when someone fired a shotgun cartridge into her trunk. “If the bullet was fired even an inch higher, it would have hit me,” she wrote on Facebook. And about a mile away in November 2016, James Rogers was sleeping in a hammock when he was hit with shotgun pellets, which required surgery. Plus, nearly every week this summer, locals have reported untraced gunshots ricocheting through the canyons, which Woods says is unusual. (Two bodies have also been found in the area recently, though cops think they’re gang-related.)
A KILLER IS OUT THERE All the crimes remain unsolved. “The suspect’s identification and the motive are both unknown,” LA County Sheriff ’s Department Lt. Rodney Moore tells In Touch of Tristan’s murder. There’s also “little forensic evidence” to go on for all the incidents, explains Woods, adding that though cops so far say they’re unrelated, “obviously whoever is doing this is really good at what they’re doing.” It’s taken a toll: Some residents have stopped going on runs, hikes and horseback rides in the area, kept their kids indoors and stopped driving along the area’s main drag, Malibu Canyon Road — minutes from Robert Downey Jr.’s and Patrick Dempsey’s houses — after dark.
The area’s richest homeowners aren’t taking any chances. “They already have insane security to begin with,” says Woods. “They pretty much safeguard themselves against any sicko, let alone a shooter patrolling the canyon.” But even the most cautious stars aren’t prepared for this level of danger. “They have all the money you could ask for, but there’s not enough security in the world to help them sleep at night,” says the insider. “They don’t even feel safe in their own backyards! Everyone in Malibu is scared.” ◼