Elliot’s Malibu Beach House

Elliot’s Malibu Beach House was a secluded waterfront weekender on a cove in Malibu, notable in the case both as a valuable property Walter Elliot used to secure bail and as the scene of the murders of Mitzi Elliot and Johan Rilz.

Setting and Role in the Case

The house stood on a secluded cove and included a bedroom of about 1,200 square feet, with a glass wall facing the Pacific. Its private coastal setting contrasted with its public legal significance: after being charged with double murder, Walter Elliot put the property forward as collateral for his $20 million bail. The house was valued at $6 million in the bail escrow.

The Murders

The house was where Mitzi Elliot and Johan Rilz were found dead. The bedroom was described in the case file as entirely white, but the account of the scene is significant here chiefly because it established the property as the location of the double murder. The missing weapon was identified through ballistic markings as a Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver.

Walter Elliot’s Return

According to Walter’s account, he first left the house after discovering the bodies, then reconsidered and drove back into the driveway. He called 911 and waited outside for deputies to arrive. His return made the house not only the scene of the crime but also the starting point for the account he gave investigators.