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FRANKLIN PARK, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 12: Police tape blocks off an area as investigators collect evidence after a man crashed his vehicle after being fatally shot during a confrontation with ICE officers on September 12, 2025 in Franklin Park, Illinois.<\/p>\n
Scott Olson<\/p>\n
Scott Olson\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
A human skull discovered near a walking trail at DeForest Park in Long Beach, California, is shaking the sense of security that regular visitors say they\u2019ve long felt along the park\u2019s popular paths.<\/p>\n
The skull was found on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, around 5 p.m., when a family participating in an Easter egg hunt ventured into a brushy area searching for a hidden egg.<\/p>\n
The remains were partially buried in dense brush near one of the park\u2019s walking trails \u2014 the same trails that joggers, walkers and families use daily.<\/p>\n
DeForest Park, located at 6255 De Forest Ave., spans roughly 50 acres approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The park runs along the Los Angeles River and the 710 Freeway and contains a river parkway, walking trails, freshwater wetlands and open space for recreation.<\/p>\n
The skull was described as small, suggesting it may belong to an infant. A mandible, or jawbone, was the only other remains recovered. Officials later confirmed the skull was human.<\/p>\n
The discovery site\u2019s proximity to the park\u2019s trail network is what has unsettled regular users most.<\/p>\n
DeForest Park Was Crowded During Easter Egg Hunt<\/p>\n
The Easter egg hunt was described as an independent event, not city-organized.<\/p>\n
The park was described as very crowded on Easter Sunday, with families barbecuing and celebrating. Resident George G. reflected on the jarring contrast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just so sad what happened, and then on Easter Sunday. And then for kids to find it, that\u2019s very disturbing,\u201d George G told KTLA<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to leave it to the authorities, they know what to do. It was really crowded here yesterday. The whole place was full of people barbecuing, having a really good time.\u201d<\/p>\n Resident Fernando Guzman expressed sympathy for any children who witnessed the discovery.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry for whoever\u2019s kids that even saw that, you know? It sounds pretty bad,\u201d Guzman told ABC7.<\/p>\n Human Skull Has Community Members Worried<\/p>\n Resident Gabriel Rivas, who frequents the trails with his girlfriend, said the find forced him to reconsider how safe the area really is.<\/p>\n \u201cMy girlfriend and I walk past here all the time and run. We feel it\u2019s a safe trail so \u2026 surprising. I\u2019m going to have to think twice,\u201d Rivas told ABC7<\/a>.<\/p>\n His reaction captures what many regular park visitors are likely grappling with: the realization that a brushy area just steps from a well-used path concealed human remains \u2014 and that it took an egg hunter straying off the trail to find them.<\/p>\n Jessica Flores, who lives nearby and regularly brings her grandson to the park, called the discovery heartbreaking.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just beside myself because we come here all the time,\u201d Flores told NBC4<\/a>. \u201cI just live down the street and take my grandson around here. It\u2019s just heartbreaking. I hope they figure out who it is because there\u2019s so much children that come to the park.\u201d<\/p>\n Human Skull Investigation Continues<\/p>\n The Long Beach Police Department initially responded to reports of possible human remains.<\/p>\n Police cordoned off a portion of the park and placed a white canopy over the discovery site. The LA County Medical Examiner\u2019s Special Operations Response Team recovered the remains and transported them to the Forensic Science Center for examination.<\/p>\n On Monday morning, aerial footage showed investigators still scouring the scene, and some appeared to be carrying remains in evidence bags before leaving around noon.<\/p>\n Age, gender and cause of death have not been confirmed. No identity has been released. The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n For the walkers, runners and families who count on DeForest Park\u2019s trails as part of their daily routines, the discovery raises pressing questions about what lies in the dense brush bordering their paths \u2014 and whether the park\u2019s 50 acres receive the oversight that regular visitors deserve.<\/p>\n This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.<\/p>\n
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