Death of a Security Guard

Stan Greene

4.1.22: Malibu sheriffs were left with a mystery after Tuesday morning's discovery of a body in the back parking lot of Trancas Country Market, an upscale shopping mall along the Pacific Coast Highway across the street from Zuma Beach.

Inge Baumbach, a 58-year-old overnight security guard who patrolled the shops, was found dead. Homicide detectives are now calling it a suspicious death.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said Baumbach was found unresponsive by another employee at about 7 a.m. on Tuesday at the Trancas Country Market, a popular market just off the Pacific Coast Highway.

Baumbach, 58, worked as the overnight guard at the shopping center, Sheriff's officials said.

When deputies responded to the "person down" call, they found Baumbach laying in the parking lot and what looked like blunt force trauma injuries on his upper torso, authorities said.

Blood was also found near the body, Sheriff's officials said.

Los Angeles County Fire personnel attempted to treat him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"We are canvassing the area for any video that might have captured the incident and witnesses who may have some sort of information," said Lt. Vincent M. Ursini during a press conference on Tuesday. Sheriffs haven't located a weapon and it's unclear whether the incident was an accident or if another person was involved

Malibu resident David Nelson told reporters that he knew Baumbach, who worked for Cornwall Security based in Thousand Oaks. Baumbach had immigrated from Sweden decades ago.

"Polite conversation. Friendly conversation a couple times. Nothing in depth really. He was a good man," recalled Nelson. "He's just quiet and kept to himself and he would stay in his car here all day long, and then about five o'clock, he would move his car behind the cleaners and start his shift."

Detectives have since seized surveillance footage from Trancas Canyon Nursery, which is next to the parking lot where Baumbach was found.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau.