Police call Newport death ‘suspicious’

Newport Beach police are investigating as suspicious the death of a woman found face down on the beach, pending toxicology and autopsy results, police said Wednesday afternoon.

While authorities have identified the woman whose body was found on the sand in Newport, they have not released her name.

Supervising Deputy Coroner Larry Esslinger said the Orange County coroner’s office and Newport Beach police are still investigating how she died.

The woman was described as Asian and in her 20s with a thin build, he said.

Police are waiting to tell the woman’s family before releasing her name to the public, said police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe.

Police received a call about 6 a.m. Monday that a woman was lying face down near Tower 71, near West Oceanfront and Highland Street. Once they arrived, police found the woman was dead.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Garrett Fitzgerald at (949) 644-3797 or those with information can leave tips, anonymous or otherwise, on the department’s hotline at (800)-550-NBPD.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30