HUNTINGTON BEACH : Police Seek Artifact in Homicide Case

A 29-year-old rock band promoter who was found dead in his Huntington Beach apartment March 23 was bludgeoned to death with a wooden Tiki god artifact that is now missing, police said Tuesday.

In a press conference called to seek the public’s help in recovering the artifact for the investigation, police speculated for the first time how David Edward Hyatt was killed last month. The body of Hyatt, a promoter who once managed the British band Flock of Seagulls, was found in Seawind Village, an upscale gated complex in the 15500 block of Huntington Village Lane.

Police released a composite drawing of a Tiki god artifact believed to have been used to kill Hyatt, and asked anyone who has seen the wooden object to contact the police. Police also said they were looking for a man with “a rock ‘n’ roll musician appearance” who was seen with Hyatt shortly before his death.

Lt. Ed McErlain said Hyatt’s body was found on his bed. He had numerous head wounds and blood was splattered in the bedroom area.

McErlain said detectives found no signs of forced entry in the apartment and have so far not been able to determine a motive for the killing. Hyatt was last seen on March 21 around 12:15 a.m. in the Newport Heights area of Costa Mesa. He was accompanied by an unidentified man in his late 20s or early 30s with “long, jet-black hair and described as having a rock ‘n’ roll musician appearance,” the officer said.

“We would really like to speak with this person,” McErlain said. “We hope he comes forward.” McErlain did not say that the man who was seen with Hyatt is considered a suspect.

Because of the nature of Hyatt’s injuries, police believe the missing Tiki god was used to beat Hyatt to death. Detectives said its whereabouts could be a key to the investigation. The 20-inch high artifact is dark brown and constructed of heavy teak wood.

“It might be in a trash can or a swap meet,” McErlain said. “But it’s a major part of an investigation.”

Hyatt, who has two young children, rented the Huntington Beach condominium about four months ago after a divorce.