A young woman was found dead in an alleyway behind a movie theater and restaurant she worked at after a night out.
The body of Tatum Goodwin, 27, was discovered by a construction worker ‘down in a secluded location’ by the 200 block of Ocean Avenue around 8.20am on Sunday, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.
‘Tatum was a very hard-working young lady and always kept a smile on her face,’ said Marcos Salim Heredia, the owner and operator of Carmelita’s Restaurants, where the teen worked.
Cops initially described the victim as being in her mid- to late-20s.
Detectives consider the scene suspicious and are investigating the death as a homicide.
‘We are saddened by this senseless act of violence,’ stated police Chief Jeff Calvert. ‘Our detectives are working diligently to bring the suspect(s) to justice.’
Goodwin’s cause of death is being determined by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.
She worked as an assistant manager at Carmelita’s and was with the restaurant for four years, according to Heredia.
Tatum Goodwin worked at Carmelita’s restaurant in Laguna Beach for four years
Tatum Goodwin worked at Carmelita’s restaurant in Laguna Beach for four years (Picture: Google)
‘Over the years she had expressed her pleasure to be in laguna and have her opportunity with us,’ he wrote in a GoFundMe page he set up for a memorial for her. ‘We felt that we really had a family member here with us.’
Goodwin’s friends told KTLA that she went to Hennessey’s Tavern close by after getting off work on Saturday. The tavern asked on social media for anyone who was there that night to come forward with any pictures or videos that may help with her case.
