Horror find of human legs on California shoreline prompts massive police investigation

Police in California are investigating after a number of human legs were found washed up on a beach in Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, amid fears for two missing fishermen

Police are investigating after the grisly find of a human leg washed up on a beach, weeks after two fishermen vanished.

Search teams scoured the area after a hiker found the lone limb and found another leg. Another leg had earlier been found nearby the scene in Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, California,, but it is currently unknown who they had belonged to.

Palos Verdes Estates Police Captain Aaron Belda confirmed the leg was originally found by a hiker enjoying a beach stroll. No other details were provided.

He said: “We’re not ruling anything out, but that has not been determined at this point. No identification has been made and we don’t have any supporting information to believe they are connected.”

It is feared the finds were connected to reports of a capsized fishing boat on December 23. The fishermen aboard, two men aged in their 50s, are yet to be found, it has been reported locally.

A beachgoer told KTLA : “The [boat] was completely overturned. There were holes in the hull and stuff scattered across the beach, a couple of life jackets, a propeller, coolers and kids’ life vests.”

The search has been hampered by a high tide, as well as a thick fog which is expected to last several days. Boats are expected back

US Coastguard Northern California posted on X: “Crew from Sector LA/LB searching for 2 PIWs near Palos Verdes. Vessel found overturned after being reported overdue this morning.

“Baywatch Cabrillo, Baywatch Redondo, LA Port Police, LA County Sherriff and LA COunty Fire Department Palos Verdes estates PD are assisting in the search.”

LA County Fire Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Jake Miller added: “We pretty much saturated everything from the cliff all the way out into the ocean as best we could with nothing found.

“Definitely a bummer with the holidays and awful for their families and this circumstance.”