Authorities Identify Body Found in Park

The decomposed body found by a park aide in the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area near Gorman on Friday has been identified as Anthony William Guest, 20, a transient from Redondo Beach, authorities said.

Guest had been dead for about a week before his body was discovered in a day-use area of the park, which straddles the Ventura-Los Angeles county line, authorities said.

The body was badly decomposed and wild animals had gotten to it, but there was no immediate indication of how Guest died, authorities said. Guest had a history of drug use and mental problems, authorities said.

An autopsy was performed Saturday but the actual cause of death is pending results of toxicological tests.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation as a homicide and is asking anyone with information about the case to call 654-2349.