Authorities say a family made the discovery Sunday at DeForest Park and Wetlands, and the remains are now being examined by the county medical examiner.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Investigators confirmed Monday that a human skull was found near a family Easter egg hunt at DeForest Park and Wetlands in Long Beach after officers were called to the park about 5 p.m. Sunday.
The discovery turned a holiday outing into an active investigation and raised urgent questions about who the remains belong to, how long they were at the site and whether the case is tied to any crime. Long Beach police and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner were still working Monday to identify the remains after a family found what appeared to be bones near a walking path in the park.
Police said officers responded Sunday evening to the 5900 block of De Forest Avenue after a report of possible human remains. The location is next to DeForest Park and Wetlands, a large public park where families had gathered earlier in the day for Easter activities. Witnesses said brightly colored plastic eggs were still scattered on the ground when officers taped off the area and began searching. Neighbors who saw the scene said the family that found the remains appeared shaken. Marc Zaldana, who was at the park, said he came upon the family moments after the discovery and could see that “they were freaking out a little bit.” By nightfall, officers had sealed off the area while investigators examined the ground near the trail.
By Monday, police said the remains were confirmed to be human, though authorities released few details beyond that. The county medical examiner said its Special Operations Response Team recovered a skull and a mandible, or jawbone, from the scene and took them to the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center for further examination. The office listed the remains as an unidentified case, but investigators had not announced an age, sex or identity. That left major questions unanswered, including whether the bones had been buried for a long time or recently exposed. Early talk among some witnesses that the remains might belong to a child had not been confirmed by officials. Police also had not said whether any other bones were recovered or whether there were visible signs of trauma.
The setting added to the shock. DeForest Park and Wetlands covers nearly 50 acres and includes open park space, wetlands and a nature trail near the Los Angeles River. It is a place where nearby families go for walks, children’s activities and community gatherings, making the discovery especially jarring for regular visitors. Jessica Flores, a nearby resident, said the news left her stunned because she brings her grandson to the park often. The contrast between a holiday egg hunt and a forensic recovery drew broad attention across Southern California, but the basic facts remained narrow and careful: investigators had confirmed human remains, secured the scene and transferred the evidence for lab work. At this stage, the case remained more about identification than accusation.
The next steps are procedural but important. Forensic specialists are expected to study the skull and jawbone to estimate age and biological profile, look for signs of injury and determine whether the remains may connect to a missing-person case or an older, unresolved death. Police have not announced any arrest, suspect or criminal allegation, and no charges were pending as of Monday. The medical examiner’s review will likely guide what happens next, including whether detectives expand the search area, compare records or seek public help. If the examination shows the remains are recent or suspicious, the investigation could quickly shift into a homicide or suspicious-death inquiry. If the bones are older, the case may move more slowly as specialists work through identification.
At the park, the scene left neighbors trying to make sense of a discovery made in front of children on a day meant for family gatherings. Some returned after police arrived, hoping for answers and worried about the children who may have seen the remains first. Christopher Cain, a Long Beach resident, said the experience would be “traumatizing” for a child. Even so, officials kept their public comments tight, sticking to what had been confirmed and avoiding guesses about the person’s age or how the remains came to be there. That caution underscored how early the case still is. What began as an Easter afternoon at a familiar neighborhood park has now become a formal unidentified-remains investigation with forensic testing at its center.
As of Monday night, authorities had confirmed only that a human skull and jawbone were recovered at the Long Beach park. The next public milestone is expected to come after the medical examiner completes more testing and releases any updated identification details.
Author note: Last updated April 7, 2026.