SANTA MONICA, CA – A woman was found dead Saturday evening inside a Santa Monica apartment building that neighbors described as an assisted living facility for mentally ill and developmentally disabled adults, authorities said.
Santa Monica Police Department officers responded around 5:21 p.m. to the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard, near Santa Monica College, after receiving a report of a woman in need of medical assistance.
When officers arrived, they found the woman suffering from significant injuries, police said.
Santa Monica Fire Department personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Santa Monica police said detectives are investigating the woman’s death as a homicide.
Information gathered by Street People indicates the building where the woman was found is believed to be an assisted living facility. KTLA reported that one such facility, The Manor, is located in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard.
Neighbors told KTLA the victim had moved into the building about two weeks before her death and was found unresponsive after being attacked in a communal bathroom.
Police confirmed that one person was taken into custody Saturday night in connection with the case. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name.
The victim’s identity has also not been publicly released.
Investigators said no additional suspects are being sought at this time, though the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain under investigation.
Authorities have not confirmed what led to the attack, whether the suspect and victim knew each other, or whether the incident occurred inside a shared area of the building.
The case adds to concerns from nearby residents about safety inside facilities that house vulnerable adults, particularly those with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Police have not released details about the facility’s operations or whether any staff members were present when the woman was injured.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.
