Venice homicide [Updated]

Venice: A 25-year-old white homeless man was discovered partially buried in the sand near Ocean Front Walk and Breeze Avenue by L.A. City Park and Recreation employees at about 7 p.m. Sunday, March 9. According to police, the man was beaten to death, then dragged to the burial site. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Pacific Area Homicide (310) 482-6316

Updated on August 21, 2009: A previous version of this post incorrectly gave the number for Pacific Area Homicide as (310) 782-6316. Authorities later said the victim, identified as Nathan Alan Morgan, 25, of Portland, Ore., was discovered about 8 a.m. on Monday, March 10. Read more about his case:

Dispatch: 'I felt in my gut that there was something wrong... I can't explain it'

Comments

[brad]

The perps are in custody. Thanks to video surveillance and some concerned citizens. It's time to clean up Venice beach front. There are many drugged out youth that pose a very real risk to our citizens. No more. Things have to and will change in Venice

[tom]

did they catch the people who murdered Nate aka the homeless guy, or not?

[ryan buck]

A Renee from California called me to investigate some info on Nate Morgan whome she said they found Murdered,and I'm wondering if this is about him above? Please let me know thanks

[sue morgan]

Hi,
this is the mom of the man who was murdered and I would like any details people are willing to post.I want everyone to know my son was NOT a homeless man, he has a very loving family who had not heard from him in several weeks. He had a job in another state, an address, a home. What these people chose to do is unimaginable, and We want justice to be served. We love and miss our son

[Carol]

This was not just another "homeless man". He was a son, brother, uncle and friend from a small midwest town. Please pray for his loving, hurting family

[Eddie Myers]

Sue, we are praying for your peace and know that Nathan will always be remembered. Our hearts go out to you and your family in this sad time. We are SO sorry for your loss. It hurts all of us.....Eddie and Kelly!

[Mesha]

Hi, yes as his mother said Nate was not homeless at all... Everyone that knew him knew the same. I grew up with him, his sister and pretty much the whole family. I will miss him completely eveyone will miss him... Love you Sue nd' Richard!!! Much love to you guys in the loss of Nate!!

[Ryan Buck]

Hello, Nate Worked for me at Owens Corning Basements in Toledo Ohio. If Nate's parents read this please e-mail me. I would really like to talk to you, and would like to know about funeral arraingements. Nate also lived with me a short while. I am deeply saddened to hear about this. Please e-mail me asap. Thanks Ryan Buck

[brad]

Nate Morgan was from Toledo? I was born and raised there. Nate was murdered outside my apartment building last Sunday night. My tenants and manager called me the next morning to tell me they heard screaming at 1:30 in the morning. We reviewed our surveillance tapes to find that he was murdered by a young man. We supplied the tape to the LAPD and and I believe that they have the perpetrator and the knife that he used in this murder. I am very sorry for the profound loss that Nate's family and friends are experiencing right now. I cannot imagine the level of grief that you must feel. Please know that his brutal murder has struck a chord in our small community, a battle cry if you will, to take back our beach front from individuals that have absolutely no respect for themselves or our community.

[Mesha]

Hi, my name is Mesha,
I grew up with Nate nd' his sister for a large part of my life. He was not some "Homeless" guy... He was and is still today loved by a lot of people. Yeah he made mistakes in his life, but he also did a complete turn around to straighten up his life. He was an awsome guy to have i your life. Sue I just wanna let you kno I am very sorry to hear of this happening. You and all your family are in my prayers. If you guys need anything at all feel free to give my mother or me a call. Love you guys and deeply miss Nate!!!

[Ryan Buck]

I was wondering if anyone could please e-mail me back I would like to know if thier is going to be a funeral. If their is going to be one,please let me know the time,and place. I thank- you.

[scott wright sr]

sad sad day i'm sorry to hear about nate. sue and richard i'm praying for the family.

[Nichole Morgan]

This is Nate's Twin Sister-

His showing is on Thursday and the funeral is Friday. His obit is in the Toledo Blade today and Wed. or you can go to the following website http://www.webfh.com/fh/home/home.cfm?&fh_id=10485.

Thanks for all the support
Nichole Morgan

[tracey]

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2008 at the Swan Creek Community Church in Delta .where the family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until service time. Friends may call at the Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home in Wauseon from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday.The family requests that memorial contributions be made to either the Wauseon Alano Club or The Potter's Hand Restoration Center in Montpelier. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.GrisierFH.com

My heart goes out to all the family and friends of Nathan~

[Dana]

Whether he was homeless or not, he was a person, and should have been treated as such. I'm very sorry for your loss, but these comments make me wonder if people would even care about a homeless man dying. Kinda makes me sick. "Just" a homeless man? Why don't you try "man in dire need of help from his community"?

[A Fan]

Your comments from all of you is touching my heart. I'm impressed how the story is unfolding with comments etc...and how this person is a real live person and not just some stranger homeless on the street. All of us are related in some manner to one another.

[Justice Committee]

I am so sorry. I hate that they called him a homeless man, like he had no name and no value. There is just no excuse. All humans have value and although I am not sure if I knew him, he did not deserve any of this and his family should not have to suffer insult on top of the terrible pain they must suffer from the loss. I do not want to post more on this blog. Will someone from Nate’s family please contact me at humanrights@freevenice.org ?

[Raven]

I can't hold all this in anymore....It wasn't just one man...it was a group of people...hate to say but he walked up talking very disrespectfully to a female..people asked him to stop...we don't know if he had been drinking or what his deal was that night...he wasn't acting himself....and....the girls boyfriend got mad at him...but it shouldn't have gone down the way it did...and I'm sorry for your loss. Everyone was fighting that night....tempers were reaching the brink....still no excuse for what they did....I just thought they had gotten into a fist fight....until I saw the girl crying, she came up to me saying "I didn't know....I didn't know I didn't mean for any of this to happen." I will never forget that night....and what plagues my mind is wondering if I had known.. could I have talked people out of it....I could have still been kickin it with Nathan on the beach watching the sunset while the drumcircle plays and drinking a Joose with everyone, laughing having a good time...my heart goes out to all of you...

[Detective Luis Carranza, LAPD Pacific Area Homicide Unit]

I'm one of the investigators involved in this case. I'm writing in this blog related to the murder of Nathan Morgan, in the hopes that Raven or anyone who may have observed what happened to Nathan Morgan that fateful day in Venice beach. I have kept in close contact with Nathan's father and sisiter. I truly believe that they would be very appreciative of any help in bringing closure to this unfortunate tragedy. My e-mail adress: 32525@lapd.lacity.org. My pnone # (310) 482-6373.

[JoAnn]

It is March 11, 2009....a year later. The first post says the perps are in custody. However, the family is still searching for answers. Who killed Nathan? So...whatever happened? Was anyone taken into custody? Where does this case stand today?

[christina]

hello, this is nates younger sister.. we are still searching for the people who did this to him.. they are still out there and it is not fair.. nathan was my brother and my best friend.. everything that happened that night was not right... and should have been stopped before it got out of hand... my brother had good intentions and a very good heart and did not deserve this... nobody does.. this is why we want so bad for these people to be found.. .any sort of evidence can help so i am begging you if you know anything please please contact the authorities...we need your help to get these people put away for good....
---nates little sisterr.

[Richard Morgan]

There has been a website created in memory of Nathan and his life. If you go to www.nathan-alan-morgan.com you can see some of his pics and also his funeral has been uploaded for those who we not able to attend.

[Richard Morgan]

We have added some pictures to Nathans Website www.nathan-alan-morgan.com from a undeveloped, disposable camera was found in the
hotel room Nathan had shared with his friend. These
pictures were taken by Nathan and his friends during
those final days. We hope that by posting them here,
someone will be recognized, or a memory triggered that
will help unravel this case. If you know, saw, or heard,
anything about what happened that early morning, please
contact me here. goldwing199@yahoo.com Thank you....Richard Morgan..... Nates Dad

[Richard Nathan's Dad]

I keep wishing ..still, of just having one more day with him.....The "what if's" an "If only's" will never go away. He is Greatly Missed!