Brentwood News / Century City - Westwood News: Jul 2026

Late actress Diane Keaton’s famed Brentwood estate goes active under contract for $22.9M

Brentwood Rallies Against State Wildfire Rule Requiring Tree and Plant Removal

Critics Argue

Vegetation-Clearing Mandate Ignores Local Needs

Known as “The House That Pinterest Built,” the Sullivan Canyon property enters escrow following price reductions

Brentwood residents turned out in large numbers Thursday to oppose proposed state wildfire regulations they say would harm neighborhoods and the environment while doing little to prevent future disasters.

The meeting, held by the California Board of Forestry’s Zone Zero Committee, was the only one scheduled in the region and drew strong criticism from Westside communities. The proposed rules would require homeowners in high-risk areas to clear vegetation within five feet of their homes, creating what the state calls an “ember-resistant defensible zone.”

The Brentwood residence designed and owned by the late actress Diane Keaton has entered backup status, going active under contract for $22.9 million nearly nine months following her death, as reported by Realtor.com.

Located on Riviera Ranch Road in the rustic Sullivan Canyon neighborhood, the Napa-inspired compound spanning more than 9,000 square feet on a 28,000-squarefoot lot was famously chronicled in Keaton’s 2017 book, The House That Pinterest Built. Though the Oscar-winning actress long maintained it was the one property she intended to keep, the estate

Speakers at the meeting argued that

the regulations adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach that fails to reflect the unique needs of individual communities. Many urged state officials to focus resources instead on home hardening, brush clearance, and landscape maintenance rather than widespread tree and plant removal.

was initially listed five months prior to her death at an asking price of $28 million.

After going off the market, the property was relisted in October 2025 at $26 million, then reduced to $22.9 million. The listing changed to active under contract, meaning an offer has been accepted while the property remains open to backup offers. Details regarding the buyers were not disclosed.

Survivors of the recent Palisades Fire shared firsthand accounts, saying their homes, not nearby vegetation, provided the primary fuel for the blaze. Several emphasized that healthy trees, hedges, and landscaping actually helped slow the fire’s spread in their neighborhoods.

Constructed using reclaimed architectural features, vintage light fixtures, and natural materials, the gated compound reflects Keaton’s decades-long passion for home restoration and interior design. The primary residence features high ceilings and open living spaces designed to integrate indoor and outdoor entertaining.

Opponents also warned that removing trees and plants would damage the region’s urban canopy, harm wildlife habitats, and increase hillside erosion. They argued that local governments should have the flexibility to craft fire-prevention strategies that balance safety with environmental preservation.

end of the year, when the regulations are

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci

The estate includes a separate guest house, a double-gated motor court, and mature landscaping providing privacy from the street. Situated within Sullivan Canyon, a historic equestrian enclave on Los Angeles’ Westside, the location offers proximity to private horse trails and boarding facilities alongside standard city amenities.

The listing was held by Josh Flagg of Compass.

Additional resources and information about the Zone Zero proposal are available at www.zonezerofacts.org. The Brentwood Community Council said in their newsletter that yard signs opposing the regulation

“When You Can’t Do Anything, Do Something”: An Interview with

on the SAMI Foundation

with schools and community programs.

can be requested by contacting local neighborhood associations while supplies

Carla Liber

Hawthorne man charged with murder after a stranded driver and a LAPD veteran were killed in a

After the Sudden Loss of Her Daughter Sami, Carla Liber Launches the Sami Foundation to Bring

405 crash

Court documents allege driver was traveling nearly double the speed limit seconds before hitting Sgt. Shiou Lih Deng and Jesús Garcia.

In this conversation with reporter Dolores Quintana, Liber reflects on Sammy’s quiet and natural artistic brilliance, why is essential for young people, and how remembrance can live on as access and opportunity.

following a California Highway Patrol investigation into the June 2025 collision. Los Angeles County prosecutors are requesting that Bickham be held without bail, or that bail be set at $4 million.

Art, Music, and Hope to Kids Who Need It Most

Felony murder charges have been filed against a Hawthorne man accused of driving 112 mph on the 405 Freeway last year, causing a crash that killed an on-duty Los Angeles police sergeant and a stranded motorist, LADA prosecutors announced.

Mario Joseph Bickham, 36, faces two counts of second-degree murder and is scheduled for arraignment this afternoon

In the wake of an unthinkable loss, Carla Liber has channeled grief into purpose with the SAMI Foundation, Supporting Art, Music & Imagination, created in memory of her daughter, Sami. The nonprofit moves quickly to put brushes, canvases, and instruments directly into kids’ hands through art kits inspired by their daughter, classroom supply grants, and partnerships

The chain of events began around 1:54 a.m. on June 23, 2025, when 34-year-old Jesús Arturo Garcia was driving home from work on southbound Interstate 405.

“This is just the beginning,” adds. “We want every child with a creative spark to feel seen, supported, and celebrated—just like Sami always made others feel. We’ll never stop missing her, but through this work, her spirit continues to make the world a more beautiful place.”

Dolores Quintana (DQ): For readers meeting you for the first time, could you introduce yourself?

An unknown driver struck Garcia’s pickup truck near the Getty Center, leaving the disabled vehicle blocking the HOV and adjacent traffic lanes just north of the Sunset Boulevard exit.

Minutes later, LAPD Sgt. Shiou Lih Deng spotted the stranded motorist. Deng, a 26-year veteran of the department, activated his patrol car's emergency lights and stopped to assist Garcia.

Carla Liber (CL): I’m Carla Liber. My husband, Rod, and I are native Southern Californians—we’ve been married 20 years and have two daughters, Ava and Sami. I was a stay-at-home mom active in our schools and community; Rod worked in film and later in real estate so he could be present for the girls. We’re speaking from Miami, where we just dropped Ava at college.

DQ: Tell me about Sami, especially her

Investigators allege that at 2:04 a.m., Bickham was driving his sedan alone in the HOV lane when he slammed into the patrol vehicle, the disabled truck, and both men. Data from the investigation indicates

scenes—completely absorbed. She took a few classes, but mostly she was selftaught: sketchbooks, YouTube clips, and hours with music on and a pen in hand.

We’re still finding her work—beautiful ink studies tucked into grandparents’ houses and old notebooks. She also loved

photography, fashion, and makeup; she had a natural eye and shared it generously

Did that visual sense show up at

CL: Absolutely. She joined the yearbook in eighth grade and, by 10th grade, teachers asked her to apply for editor-in-chief, a role usually reserved for seniors. She had a real gift for layout and making a blank page sing.

Westwood and Brentwood neighborhood groups move to appeal the Ohio Avenue bike lane plan

Homeowners warn that blocking left turns on Ohio Avenue will divert heavy commuter traffic into quiet side streets.

Thirteen neighborhood groups from Brentwood and Westwood have formally notified the Board of Public Works of their intent to appeal the city’s proposed Ohio Avenue Mobility Project, citing concerns over severe traffic diversions and a lack of community input.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation plan calls for installing protected bike lanes along Ohio Avenue from Westgate Avenue to Westwood Boulevard. While the coalition stated it supports protected infrastructure to ensure cyclist safety, members strongly object to a design element that would eliminate all eastbound left turns from Ohio Avenue at Federal, Barrington, Sawtelle, and Veteran avenues.

Opponents argue the turn restrictions will block Westwood residents from accessing their homes and hinder commuters traveling to the upcoming Department of Veterans Affairs D Line subway station, which is projected to see 8,000 daily boardings. Neighborhood advocates warn that displaced left-turning vehicles will cut through narrow residential side streets rather than utilize main traffic arteries. The coalition includes nine Westwood organizations alongside the South

and the

Association.

Brentwood groups are focusing their objections on the city's development and selection process for the project. LADOT officials maintain the design is covered by the 2024 Measure HLA ordinance, a voterapproved initiative requiring community input and mobility designs that balance the needs of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

However, the coalition alleges that LADOT spent two years collaborating exclusively with two bicycle-focused advocacy councils before presenting the final blueprint to the other 13 neighborhood groups as a fait accompli. Representatives also contend that LADOT ignored Measure HLA’s balancing mandate by rejecting alternative designs submitted by the coalition that would accommodate all road users.

NOW ENROLLING TK - KINDERGARTEN

Brentwood Beat: Three Big New Power Poles Coming to Brentwood

Relief may be on the way for Brentwood residents who have suffered losing power for days at a time – or who might in the future.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is moving forward with a plan to erect three 70-foot power poles in the neighborhood, each topped with a transformer rack designed to strengthen the local electrical grid.

The three locations are San Vicente Boulevard and South Gretna Green Way, across from Brentwood Science Magnet School; Gorham Avenue and South Barrington Avenue, behind the Starbucks; and a stretch of Sunset Boulevard between San Remo Drive and Allenford Avenue.

LADWP says the equipment will cut down on both the frequency and length of outages by reinforcing a distribution system that has struggled to keep up with demand. Parts of Brentwood have experienced repeated outages in recent years.

Two local trends are adding pressure to the grid, according to the utility: a higher-than-average rate of electric vehicle ownership in Brentwood, and the continued trend toward larger homes, sometimes called “mansionization,” which draws more power per household.

LADWP representatives walked residents through the plan at the Brentwood Community Council's June meeting. The reaction in the room was mixed but largely resigned: nobody loved the idea of 70-foot poles going up nearby, but most attendees seemed to accept that the upgrade was overdue.

"Big and ugly" was how BCC member Carolyn Jordan described the poles — while acknowledging that Brentwood needs them.

Several residents, including Lauren Cole, used the meeting to describe what it's like to go days without electricity. A DWP spokesperson told the group that the grid comes under the most strain during heat waves — precisely when a prolonged outage means no air conditioning.

Construction is set to begin in July 2026 and continue on and off through March 2027, according to Council District 11, with the new equipment expected to be up and running by April 2027.

NOT A TRANSMISSION TOWER

It helps to know what these structures are not: they're not the tall steel lattice towers that move high-voltage electricity across long distances.

What's going up in Brentwood is distribution-level equipment — essentially a pole with a platform on top holding transformers and cross arms, standing in for the kind of substation that would otherwise sit at ground level. LADWP refers to similar

setups elsewhere as “pole-top distributing stations,” built from components — poles, transformers, cross arms, platforms — already in wide use across the city's power system. The Brentwood poles will meet the same construction and safety codes as the rest of the grid.

The utility describes the poles themselves as non-combustible metal, engineered to strict safety standards, with little expected noise impact.

BRENTWOOD ISN'T THE FIRST

This wouldn't be the first time this kind of fix has landed on the Westside. LADWP put up two temporary pole-top distributing stations in Pacific Palisades back in 2016 — one at Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road, the other at Sunset Boulevard and Marquez Avenue.

A property owner near the Marquez Avenue site fought the decision, taking an appeal to the California Coastal Commission and arguing that groundmounted transformers would have been less visually intrusive. The Commission sided with LADWP and denied the appeal.

A LONG-RUNNING PROBLEM

None of this is new territory for Brentwood's grid. LADWP has been expanding capacity in the neighborhood for well over a decade, including a new circuit added to the DS-66 substation at San Vicente Boulevard and Gretna Green Way after a run of outages in 2013 and 2014.

The three new poles are simply the latest chapter in that effort to keep the neighborhood's power supply ahead of demand. LADWP has not yet posted a dedicated project page for the work; residents with questions can reach out to Council District 11 or LADWP directly as construction dates firm up.

BCC

grid over time. A

could ease pressure on the

idea that wider adoption of solar power in

spokesperson didn't disagree — but cautioned that a shift to solar wouldn't happen fast enough to make the new poles unnecessary.

Sweet Rose Creamery brings back its popular Summer Corn ice cream to Brentwood

Levain Bakery and Sweet Rose Creamery continue their collab of espresso floats and custom cookie à la mode pairings.

It’s officially summer, even though June gloom seems to have seeped into July, and that means that it is officially ice cream season. Brentwood’s Sweet Rose Creamery has announced its summer flavors and the delicious collaboration between Sweet Rose and Levain Bakery continues. The first and most exciting announcement is that a favorite summer flavor, Summer Corn Ice Cream, is back. Fans of the smallbatch ice cream shop with locally-sourced ingredients wait for this flavor every year. The other new flavor is Mango Milk Gelato, and the shop will keep strawberry ice cream and peach sorbet for the rest of the summer.

It is also a great opportunity to remind you of the excellent collaboration between Sweet Rose Creamery and Levain Bakery,

which will continue all summer. You can find the collab at Levain, which will be serving ice cream cookie sandwiches, affogatos, espresso coffee shots over ice cream, and cookie à la mode, with a whole Levain cookie of your choice with a scoop of ice cream.

be the constant flavor every month during the partnership, with a second monthly flavor that will be revealed early in the month.

Film producer Cash Warren settles in Brentwood with a $5 million Mediterranean property purchase

The real estate purchase comes more than a year after Warren and Jessica Alba ended their 17-year marriage.

Film producer Cash Warren has purchased a $5 million home in Brentwood, establishing a new residence following his divorce from actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, as reported by In Touch Magazine.

The real estate transaction closes more than a year after the couple announced the end of their 17-year marriage. Records show the Mediterranean-style

property spans 5,773 square feet and features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a chef's kitchen, a home office, and a wine cellar. The outdoor space includes a swimming pool and multiple entertaining patios.

Warren, 47, and Alba, 45, met on the set of the 2005 film Fantastic Four, where Warren worked as a director's assistant. They married in May 2008 and share three children. Alba, the co-founder of The Honest Company, officially filed for divorce on February 7, 2025.

The property purchase follows recent public appearances by Alba and her new partner, 33-year-old actor Danny Ramirez. The two, who began dating last year, recently attended the Fendi Couture runway show together in Rome.

Dennis Quaid lists Brentwood Hills home for five million after Nashville relocation

The actor put his remodeled contemporary property on the market weeks after announcing his departure.

Actor Dennis Quaid has listed his long-held Brentwood Hills home for $5.2 million following his recent relocation to Tennessee, as reported by Realtor.com.

The 72-year-old Texas native purchased the contemporary two-story residence for $3.9 million in 2017 before executing an extensive remodel. The sale comes weeks after Quaid publicly discussed his decision to leave California for Nashville with his wife, Laura Savoie.

Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, the architectural design spans just over 4,100 square feet of living space, featuring five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. A walled private courtyard opens into a doubleheight entry hall and a formal living room

equipped with French doors that open to a private terraced garden.

The interior centers around a great room bordered by wraparound windows and glass walls, integrating a specialized cook's kitchen, a casual dining area, and a family room that connects directly to the outdoor

Brentwood Green fundraiser secures

Sunday access for campus park

Silent auction and CD11 grant keep neighborhood school playground open

Brentwood Green volunteers and board members have thanked the neighborhood after a June 28 silent auction raised enough funds to keep the Brentwood Science Magnet School playground open every Sunday, according to a social media post from the nonprofit organization.

The post said, “THANK YOU to each person that donated, bid, and cheered us on during our silent auction. Because of you, the kids & families of our community have a place to play and connect on Sundays.”

The nonprofit also received funds from the CD11 Foundation, which awards funding to neighborhood groups creating and maintaining safe public parks across Council District 11, according to the South Brentwood Residents Association.

Brentwood Green operates as a dedicated

nonprofit focused on preserving weekend access to the school grounds' facilities for the children and families in the community.

space. Modern finishes and wood flooring run throughout the open floor plan.

The primary suite serves as a distinct wing, containing a fireplace, a private terrace, a lavish bathroom, dual custom walk-in closets, and an attached sitting room or office equipped with a kitchenette.

The main floor includes an additional guest suite with direct garden access that can also function as a secondary office workspace.

The grounds are designed for indooroutdoor living, featuring a private yard with patios, a lawn, a swimming pool, and a built-in barbecue area surrounded by terraced gardens.

The residence, which Quaid and his family previously had to evacuate during the Palisades Fire, provides direct access to local mountain biking and hiking trails while remaining near central Brentwood. David Offer of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices holds the listing.

All-New ‘Funhouse at Pacific Park’ To Open

Three Oakland men ordered to stand trial in the fatal West Hollywood to Bel-Air follow-home robbery

At The Santa Monica Pier, Will Celebrate Eerie Historic Past

A judge ruled there is enough evidence to prosecute the surviving members of a crew accused of killing fitness influencer Miguel Aguilar.

The ‘Toonerville Funhouse,’ originally located at Ocean Park Pier and Pacific Ocean Park amusement parks, is inspiration for the newest attraction inside Pacific Park

Three Northern California men must stand trial for the murder of a Los Angeles fitness influencer who was shot during a 2024 follow-home robbery at his Bel-Air estate, a judge ruled last week, as reported by KTLA 5 News.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., (September 10, 2025) --- Guests to the all-new “Funhouse at Pacific Park” will explore a lost world of spooky, chilling, and haunting experiences.

The ruling clears the way for trial proceedings against Oakland residents Jason Melara, Daymonee Johnson, and Mahki Taylor. Prosecutors allege the three men, along with a fourth accomplice who later died, traveled from the Bay Area to Southern California for the express purpose of targeting wealthy residents for armed robberies, according to the LA Times.

Miguel Aguilar, the 43-year-old founder of the Self Made Training Facility gym

The legendary “Toonerville Funhouse” appeared in two eras of Santa Monica amusement history – first at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s and later at Pacific Ocean Park in 1958 – thrilling and unnerving guests for decades. Hidden away for years, its spirit has been resurrected inside Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Over time, storms and renovations buried its memory, until the entrance to the abandoned funhouse was mysteriously uncovered inside Pacific Park. With a little polishing, it has reopened for guests as a nod to local Santa Monica history and nostalgic fun.

In all the tinkering and perfecting of the 'Funhouse at Pacific Park,' the sinister magic of coin-operated fortunetellers and the eerie presence of a dessert-wielding clown have once again been unleashed. With a sidelong glance, an animatronic fortuneteller seated inside its dusty glass cabinet lures unsuspecting guests into a dizzying adventure—one that may land

franchise, was shot in the neck during the confrontation on Sept. 13, 2024. Los Angeles Police Department detectives testified that the robbery crew targeted Aguilar and his wife after spotting them eating lunch at a West Hollywood restaurant. The crew followed the couple's 1959 Chevrolet Impala to their Bel-Air home, where several masked men rushed the driveway and demanded their luxury watches.

them in the back of Sprinkles the Clown's ice cream truck freezer. Will guests make it out unscathed, or will they be lost in this labyrinth of curiosities for another 100 years?

The 2,800-square-foot “Funhouse at Pacific Park” includes nine mysterious rooms and attractions designed to disorient, amuse and entertain visitors with optical illusions, tricky layouts, and unexpected surprises. From giant ice cream cones to disorienting mazes, the Funhouse offers a buffet for the senses full of unexpected twists and turns.

Evidence presented at the preliminary hearing indicates that Aguilar, who held a concealed carry permit, drew his own firearm to defend his wife. Though it remains unclear who fired first, Aguilar managed to discharge a single round before he was shot.

"Pacific Park is excited to bring a fresh take on a classic idea to the millions of visitors who enjoy the Pier each year," said Nathan Smithson, Senior Director of Business Affairs at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. "This is a unique opportunity to honor the legacy of the original Toonerville Funhouses while crafting a future filled with mystery and awe in the all-new Funhouse at Pacific Park."

The suspects fled the scene, but their getaway vehicle, a gray Acura sedan, crashed in Culver City shortly after running a red light. Two of the suspects dragged accomplice Mario Melara, who had been shot in the back, into a nearby emergency room before fleeing on foot, said the LA Times. Mario Melara, the older brother of defendant Jason Melara, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

pointed a weapon, but the court rejected the motion.

Because Mario Melara's death occurred during the commission of a felony, the three surviving suspects are also charged with his murder.

The “Toonerville Funhouses” were whimsical, cartoon-themed attractions inspired by the popular "Toonerville Trolley" comic strip, which was widely recognized in the early 20th century. The first version opened at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s, while a second debuted in 1958 at Pacific Ocean Park, which replaced Ocean Park Pier on the same site at the end of Ocean Park Boulevard, just about two nautical miles south of today’s Pacific Park, near the Santa Monica–Venice border. Both became icons of seaside amusement before disappearing in the 1970s.

Oakland police and Los Angeles detectives arrested the three surviving suspects a month after the shooting. While in custody, Taylor allegedly admitted to an informant that he fired the fatal shot, claiming he did so only after Aguilar fired at them. Defense attorneys argued that the murder charges against Jason Melara should be dropped because he never

Park in 2024 and committed $10 million in capital investments over the next five years in Pacific Park’s food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and friendly destination for tourists, families, and the community.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission-free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, Snackville with five fun food offerings and retail beach shops.

Aguilar, who built a massive social media following by documenting his journey from poverty and addiction to successful business owner, survived for three months in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries on Dec. 21, 2024.

310-260-8744, visit pacpark.com, and go to Facebook.com/pacificpark, Instagram. com/pacpark or X.com/pacpark.

SC Holdings, an investment firm with extensive experience in the consumer, entertainment, and hospitality sectors, acquired the operating group of Pacific

Pacific Park’s signature rides include the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, the Pacific Wheel, and the West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay. For additional information and hours of operation, call

Swastika Found Near Beverly Hills Elementary School Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Police Launch Investigation After Disturbing Vandalism Outside El Rodeo Elementary

Authorities are investigating after a swastika was discovered outside a Beverly Hills elementary school on Monday, according to My News LA.

The symbol was found just outside the

grounds of El Rodeo Elementary School, according to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The district noted that the act of vandalism occurred as Jewish families were preparing to observe Rosh Hashanah, which begins Monday evening, making the incident especially disturbing. District staff immediately removed the swastika and notified the Beverly Hills Police Department. Police have launched an active investigation to identify those responsible.

No additional details about potential suspects or motives have been released.

Bay Area forger sentenced for stealing $216,000 in rare Chinese books from a UCLA Library

All-New ‘Funhouse at Pacific Park’ To Open At The Santa Monica Pier, Will Celebrate

of Rosh Hashanah

Police Launch Investigation After Disturbing Vandalism Outside El Rodeo Elementary

Federal investigators tracked a Fremont man to a Brentwood hotel room filled with forgery tools and counterfeit library cards.

Authorities are investigating after a swastika was discovered outside a Beverly Hills elementary school on Monday, according to My News LA.

resident, was sentenced to home confinement on Wednesday for stealing $216,000 worth of rare historical Chinese books from UCLA and replacing them with forged duplicates.

grounds of El Rodeo Elementary School, according to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The district noted that the act of vandalism occurred as Jewish families were preparing to observe Rosh Hashanah, which begins Monday evening, making the incident especially disturbing.

District staff immediately removed the swastika and notified the Beverly Hills Police Department. Police have launched an active investigation to identify those responsible.

Court records show Ying targeted the UCLA East Asian Library between December 2024 and July 2025. Operating under several aliases, Ying checked out highly valuable historical texts and returned dummy books designed to mimic the originals. Among the stolen treasures was a rare 17th-century book dating back to China's Qing Dynasty, taken during his initial theft in December 2024.

Jeffrey Ying, a 39-year-old Fremont

The symbol was found just outside the

Ordered to serve one year of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and time served, the Northern California man pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one federal felony count of theft of major artwork. A federal judge waived any financial fines, though the exact restitution amount for the stolen items, which officials valued at over $215,000, will be determined at a later hearing.

No additional details about potential suspects or motives have been released.

Library staff uncovered the scheme after noticing physical anomalies in the returned documents and tracing the check-out logs back to a suspicious visitor.

Following Ying's arrest in August

2025, federal investigators searched his hotel room in Brentwood, uncovering a makeshift forgery workshop. Agents seized blank paper, binding materials, and custom labels prepared to fabricate the decoy books. Investigators also recovered a fraudulent California identification card bearing the name "Austin Chen" and two library cards, one under that name and another under the alias "Jason Wang." Whether any of the stolen books have been successfully recovered by the university or federal authorities remains unclear.

All-New ‘Funhouse at Pacific Park’ To Open

LAPD investigates suspected murder-suicide after

pregnant woman and her husband were found dead in Westwood.

At The Santa Monica Pier, Will Celebrate Eerie Historic Past

The couple recently celebrated a baby shower for their child.

The ‘Toonerville Funhouse,’ originally located at Ocean Park Pier and Pacific Ocean Park amusement parks, is inspiration for the newest attraction inside Pacific Park

Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after a man and his nearly to term pregnant wife were found shot to death inside a residence early Friday morning, according to multiple media reports.

them in the back of Sprinkles the Clown's ice cream truck freezer. Will guests make it out unscathed, or will they be lost in this labyrinth of curiosities for another 100 years?

Pacific Park” includes nine mysterious rooms and attractions designed to disorient, amuse and entertain visitors with optical illusions, tricky layouts, and unexpected surprises. From giant ice cream cones to disorienting mazes, the Funhouse offers a buffet for the senses full of unexpected twists and turns.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., (September 10, 2025) --- Guests to the all-new “Funhouse at Pacific Park” will explore a lost world of spooky, chilling, and haunting experiences.

Officers dispatched to a multi-story home in the 1300 block of Holmby Avenue, located just west of South Beverly Glen Boulevard, discovered the bodies around 5:40 a.m. The emergency response followed a 911 call from a neighbor who reported hearing gunshots in the immediate area.

Both victims, estimated by investigators to be approximately 45 years old, were

The legendary “Toonerville Funhouse” appeared in two eras of Santa Monica amusement history – first at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s and later at Pacific Ocean Park in 1958 – thrilling and unnerving guests for decades. Hidden away for years, its spirit has been resurrected inside Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. Over time, storms and renovations buried its memory, until the entrance to the abandoned funhouse was mysteriously uncovered inside Pacific Park. With a little polishing, it has reopened for guests as a nod to local Santa Monica history and nostalgic fun. In all the tinkering and perfecting of the 'Funhouse at Pacific Park,' the sinister magic of coin-operated fortunetellers and the eerie presence of a dessert-wielding clown have once again been unleashed. With a sidelong glance, an animatronic fortuneteller seated inside its dusty glass cabinet lures unsuspecting guests into a dizzying adventure—one that may land

Judge holds David Anthony Burke without bail after five-day preliminary hearing details chilling Hollywood Hills case.

take on a classic idea to the millions of visitors who enjoy the Pier each year," said Nathan Smithson, Senior Director of Business Affairs at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. "This is a unique opportunity to honor the legacy of the original Toonerville Funhouses while crafting a future filled with mystery and awe in the all-new Funhouse at Pacific Park."

pronounced dead at the scene from fatal gunshot wounds. The woman was eightand-a-half months pregnant with the couple's first child, an upcoming arrival they had just celebrated with family and friends at a large baby shower on July 4.

The LAPD confirmed that the initial assessment points toward a domestic murder-suicide, though a definitive motive has not been established. Crime scene investigators remained at the residential block throughout the morning to process

evidence and interview nearby neighbors.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending formal identification by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and notification of their next of kin.

The “Toonerville Funhouses” were whimsical, cartoon-themed attractions inspired by the popular "Toonerville Trolley" comic strip, which was widely recognized in the early 20th century. The first version opened at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s, while a second debuted in 1958

Park in 2024 and committed $10 million in capital investments over the next five years in Pacific Park’s food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and friendly destination for tourists, families, and the community.

Singer D4vd faces trial for murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old girl

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission-free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, Snackville with five fun food offerings and retail beach shops. Pacific Park’s signature rides include the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, the Pacific Wheel, and the West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay. For additional information and hours of operation, call

Swastika Found Near Beverly Hills Elementary School Ahead

of Rosh Hashanah

David Anthony Burke, also known as D4vd, has been ordered by a Superior Court judge to stand trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. After a five-day preliminary hearing, the charges remain one count each of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

Police Launch Investigation After Disturbing Vandalism

Outside El Rodeo Elementary

The dismembered and horribly decomposed body of the young girl was discovered in Burke’s Tesla after being abandoned by Burke for months on Bluebird Lane in the Hollywood Hills above West Hollywood. Prosecutors allege that the murder took place on April 23, 2025, and Rivas Hernandez’s remains were not discovered until September 8, 2025, in the Tesla registered to Burke in a Hollywood tow yard, the day after what would have been the girl’s 15th birthday.

Authorities are investigating after a swastika was discovered outside a Beverly Hills elementary school on Monday, according to My News LA.

including special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and murder by means of lying in wait, as well as a special allegation that Burke personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a sharp instrument, to commit the crime.

Bird Streets by booking her a rideshare car from her parents’ home in Lake Elsinore. Rivas Hernandez was never seen again.

grounds of El Rodeo Elementary School, according to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The district noted that the act of vandalism occurred as Jewish families were preparing to observe Rosh Hashanah, which begins Monday evening, making the incident especially disturbing. District staff immediately removed the swastika and notified the Beverly Hills Police Department. Police have launched an active investigation to identify those responsible.

The prosecution produced a dozen witnesses to present evidence supporting the accusations against Burke and the case against him. Prosecutors believe that Rivas Hernandez’s threats to expose their relationship and destroy his lucrative music career via text messages were the motives for the crime.

Burke is accused of stabbing Rivas Hernandez to death and putting her body in a kid’s inflatable pool, where he dismembered her corpse with a chainsaw. He allegedly ordered multiple chainsaws, the inflatable pool, and a body bag using aliases to hide his identity.

Blood evidence matching Rivas Hernandez was found in the garage of Burke’s rental property, and plastic fragments that matched the kiddie pool were found embedded in the girl’s remains.

an arraignment hearing for August 31. If convicted, Burke faces life in prison without the possibility of parole and the death penalty. Nathan Hochman, the LA County District Attorney, has said that he has not decided whether prosecutors will pursue the death penalty in this case.

It is possible that the trial could begin within 60 days of the arraignment.

The symbol was found just outside the

The Los Angeles District Attorney has also filed additional charges against Burke,

No additional details about potential suspects or motives have been released.

Prosecutors allege that Burke lured Rivas Hernandez to his rental home in the

Judge Olmedio has ruled that Burke will be held without bail and has ordered

Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman of the Major Crimes Division is prosecuting the case, which remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division.

CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF CARE FOR SANTA MONICA

We’ve been providing care to the people of Santa Monica for generations and stand ready to serve the generations yet to come — right here, in a place we’ve called home for 100 years.