Man who died at L.A. Country Club in fall from tree may have been trying to access Playboy mansion

The man who was found dead at the Los Angeles Country Club over the weekend was detained at the Playboy mansion hours before and may have been trying to get back on the grounds when he fell to his death from a tree adjacent to the sprawling Holmby Hills property, law enforcement sources said Monday.

Anthony Washington, 36, of Santa Monica, may have been trying to get onto the grounds of the mansion when a branch he was on broke, according to sources familiar with the case. The coroner's office is classifying the death as "accidental" but did not immediately release details on the injuries suffered by Washington.

Los Angeles police were called to the country club Friday afternoon after receiving a report that a possibly drunk man was down on the ground on the golf course, police said. But soon after arriving, authorities pronounced the man dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play. But sources said Washington's body was found next to a tree that sits on the country club property that borders the Playboy mansion.

Authorities also found a large broken branch at the scene, leading investigators to theorize that he was trying to gain access to the mansion grounds.

Sources also said that Washington had tried to gain entry to the Playboy mansion hours before the fatal fall. He was detained by security at the mansion but he was not arrested.

-- Andrew Blankstein

twitter.com/anblanx

Photo: The Playboy mansion. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Comments

[michael g]

When I first read this headline, I just gasped... I thought the victim might have been Bill Clinton...

[LAammy]

Was it worth it?

[kathleen]

Stupid reigns when the hormones join forces with booze .

[brian]

"Was it worth it?"
Only if was LEAVING Hef's place...not trying to get in!

[Jack]

At least he died doing what he loved most.

[Joe]

Why would anyone risk their life to see Hugh Hefner in his pajamas?

[Pablito]

The Darwin Awards have another strong applicant.

[RomanHans]

When I read the headline, my first thought was that it was George W. Bush. Then I decided that he'd just stay on the ground and call a press conference saying the tree had already been climbed.

[Ramona G]

Sheesh, he coulda just went and bought a Playboy magazine... What a doofus!

[Mark]

oh man, Michael g... hilarious. just a knock out joke.

[Schmice]

How high did he fall from?

[Bob]

I agree... His death will be a good example, to those who plan in doing an evil jobs.

[Qatar traveler]

Not worth dying for.