Suspect Charged Three Months After Man’s Body Found in Oil Drum on Malibu, California Beach

A man was charged with murder nearly three months after a body was discovered floating inside a barrel off the Malibu coast.

Joshua Simmons was arrested and charged earlier in October in connection with 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy's death back in July, but details were only released Friday.

A beachgoer discovered the victim floating in an oil drum on July 31. Murphy had been shot dead and was naked inside the 55-gallon container.

It was reported others had seen the barrel the day before, but had not been able to retrieve it.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in an update Friday that Simmons, 37, was charged with murder, as well as personal use of a firearm and criminal threats.

The department also arrested and charged another in connection with Murphy's murder. Dennis Eugene Vance, 41, is charged with one count of accessory after the fact.

"Both suspects in the case are known to be acquaintances of the victim," the update from the department added. "At this time the motive of this case is unknown."

Simmons also faces charges relating to an attempted robbery in El Monte on September 2.