On the morning of November 12, 2023, a tragic event unfolded in Laguna Beach, California, as Tatum Lee Goodwin, a 27-year-old employee at Carmelita’s Restaurant, was found dead. Her body was located in an alleyway behind a movie theater, close to her workplace, showing signs of severe physical assault.
A construction worker made the grim discovery near the 200 block of Ocean Avenue at approximately 8:20 a.m. The violent circumstances at the scene prompted Laguna Beach detectives to launch a detailed homicide investigation.
The night prior to the discovery, Goodwin had visited Hennessey’s Tavern and the Marine Room, both in the vicinity of where her body was found. It was after her shift at Carmelita’s Restaurant that she ventured out. It is known that Goodwin had recently ended a romantic relationship and was observed leaving the Marine Room late in the evening, appearing very upset. Residents reported hearing screams in the area around 2 a.m.
Investigators noted that Goodwin’s phone was still sending signals to cell towers after her demise, leading them to search areas near the Marine Room, one of her last known locations.
In the wake of this tragic event, the owner of Carmelita’s has launched a GoFundMe page to support those affected by the incident.
Following the incident, the Laguna Beach Police Department wrote a press release on Facebook, saying that Dino Rojas-Moreno, 26, was apprehended on Wednesday, November 15, in Laguna Hills, facing murder charges for the death of Goodwin.
Police have pegged Rojas-Moreno as the alleged perpetrator behind Goodwin’s death, citing “details and proofs” collected during the investigation.
Rojas-Moreno’s bail is set at $1,000,000.
